Queenstown’s Mike Sheehan is stoked to have come away from round three of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, the Lone Star Rally Canterbury, with a second-place finish in the NZRC Two-wheel drive class on debut as well as victory in the Mainland Series Class B.
Sheehan swapped into the NZRC two-wheel drive class to progress his speed in the Truck Moves Ford Fiesta R2 and also drafted in experienced co-driver Rocky Hudson for the event.
In what was the first rally Sheehan has done in the same car twice, some vital set-up changes prior to the event would pay dividends as a raised ride height suited the wet forestry roads perfectly.
Setting his sights high in using class pace setter Dylan Thomson as a yard stick, Sheehan was happy to be only 12 seconds down through the opening stage and actually beat his rival through the second special stage. Sheehan kept Thomson within his sights and when his rival punctured, he found himself in the lead with just two stages held in the dark to run.
Sheehan flew through the final stage and while it wasn’t enough to hold off Thomson, he was able to move into the lead of the Mainland Class B (1301-1600cc two-wheel drive).
“I’m really happy with where we able to get to this weekend. Rocky did a great job and that really helped me move forward also, it gives me a lot of confidence moving on this season,” said Sheehan. “I’m rapt for Rocky, his daughter Amy was in the car that won our class and son Jared was third in the class, so to be on a podium with all the co-drivers from the same family is something pretty special!”
The Sheehans Motorsport team turn their attention to the Stadium Finance South Canterbury Rally on June 23.
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