The Hawke’s Bay Car Club’s Tango Road gravel hillclimb on Sunday had a star-studded entry, including former V8 Supercar racer Greg Murphy.
Adding to the ‘star’ quality of the entry, Murphy had respected commentator, Greg Rust, in the passenger seat.
Murphy drove his Holden Barina AP4 and led the event initially, before young gun, Jack Hawkeswood, overtook him in the final stages in his Mazda 2 AP4.
The final margin was just four tenths of a second, with Gareth McLachlan third in a Galant VR4.
“Mega piece of NZ road along a ridge line with an ocean backdrop. Greg Murphy at the controls,” Rust said.
“AP4 car with about 350HP & over 500Nm! Thanks again to Murph, Stu on the tools & everyone at the #HawkesBayCarClub. What an awesome day!”
Passengers were allowed in the event, although they were not allowed to call any notes during the runs, meaning that Rust was acting simply as ballast.
No Down Under trip for WRC
Both New Zealand and Australia have been left off a proposed calendar for the 2020 World Rally Championship that has appeared online.
While the dates and the events listed have not been confirmed, journalist Pontus Lindroos believes they come from the WRC Promoter’s first draft for 2021.
“The championship is expected to be centred in Europe to reduce costs and simplify logistics although this could again change deepening on the ongoing constant changes in travel restrictions around countries such as Sweden,” Lindroos said.
“The FIA and WRC Promotor are expected to release the details of the upcoming WRC season shortly – below is a calendar based on the promoter’s first draft and rumors circulating among several organizers,” he added.
New Zealand was always regarded as a long shot to be a part of the 2021 WRC, despite missing out on this year’s championship due to COVID-19.
However, Australia’s omission is despite Rally Australia being listed as one of the nine events contracted for next year.
Motorsport Australia has not released any details of the next edition of Rally Australia, which is expected to be run from the motorsport mecca of Bathurst.
The WRC Promoter has long made it known that they were unhappy with the event’s existing base, in Coffs Harbour on the NSW coast.
Proposed 2021 WRC events:
Round 1 Rallye Monte-Carlo
Round 2 Rally Sweden
Round 3 Rallye de Portugal
Round 4 Rally Italia Sardegna
Round 5 Safari Rally, Kenya
Round 6 Rally Estonia
Round 7 Neste Rally Finland
Round 8 Rally Ireland
Round 9 Copec Rally Chile
Round 10 Rally Turkey Marmaris
Round 11 Rally RACC Catalunya – Spain
Round 12 Rally Japan
Lucky 7 for Evo 7
The 2020 ABC Pipe Fitters Northern Rallysprint Series has gone to veteran steerer, Graham Featherstone, for a record seventh year in succession.
Featherstone was too good for a high-quality field in the Andy Lowe Memorial Rallysprint near Matamata, setting the fastest time by over a second and a half in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7.
Dunedin’s Emma Gilmour made the trek north to test her much-rallied Suzuki Swift AP4, taking second place after a strong drive.
Gravel rallying rookie, Haydn Mackenzie, was an impressive third in his ex-Brian Green, ex-Raana Horan, Lancer Evo 9.
Mackenzie cut his teeth in NZV8 Touring Car racing, side-by-side off-road racing and motorcycle enduro events – including the famed Red Bull Romaniacs – and is showing that he’s quickly making the switch. He plans to contest next year’s national championship.
The initial leader of the rallysprint was former NZRC front-runner Todd Bawden, but as the pace picked up he slipped back to fourth place in his Lancer Evo 6.
The top five was rounded out by Ben Thomasen in a Subaru Impreza.
Top 5 Fastest Times:
1/ Graham Featherstone (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) 5m 59.14s;
2/ Emma Gilmour (Suzuki Swift AP4) 6m 00.78s;
3/ Haydn Mackenzie (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 6m 02.05s;
4/ Todd Bawden (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) 6m 03.05s;
5/ Ben Thomasen (Subaru Impreza) 6m 09.45s;
Comments