Rangiora’s Ari Pettigrew defied all the odds to finish a stunning fourth in the Catlins Coast Rally after starting 62nd on the road.
In atrocious conditions, drivers battled snow and ice over the six high-speed special stages and while many of the fancied front-runners struggled, Pettigrew was in a league of his own as he tore up the leader board in his BMW 318Ti to be in second place by the end of the second closed road test.
In just his second-ever rally event, the 17-year-old was never fazed by his sudden rise and it was only over the final two tests that he slipped back to finish fourth, a mere 7 seconds off a podium place.
So, how did the novice Pettigrew trounce so many of his fancied rivals?
“The conditions were really slippery and it all just gelled for me,” said Pettigrew.
“I guess 10 years of sliding around in grass karts came good. I think I was able to carry more speed through the corners [than competitors] and it just clicked really.”
Of the six special stages that made up the Catlins Rally, the longer stages suited the youngster best. Taking advantage of the front drivers striking trouble in the conditions Pettigrew’s second-fastest time on Stage 2 set up his fine run to the finish.
“I dropped down the order on the shorter stages but 8th fastest on stage 4 kept us in the hunt for a top placing.”
“I still can’t believe we did so well. When people there told us we were in second place I didn’t really believe them. It still hasn’t really sunk in,” said Pettigrew.
Not only is young Pettigrew turning heads with his driving, he is also competing in a most unconventional rally car. Opting to hone his skills in two-wheel-drive before attempting to drive a modern four-wheel-drive car, the question is why choose a BMW? Ari’s father Dave has the answer.
“Cheap! I was building up another (Ford) Escort but the cost was getting too great. So we decided to try rallying a BMW. Rear-wheel drive, good engine and easier to modify. And the car only cost us $3,000.”
While this was Ari’s first drive in the Catlins Rally, his co-driving dad has driven the event himself at least a dozen times.
“The first time I competed at Catlins I won my class and now Ari has done the same,” said Dave.
Pettigrew senior has been driving in rallies since 1992 and this year decided to move across to the co-drivers seat and let Ari take the wheel.
“I can’t believe how quickly Ari has adapted and how quickly he’s picked up reading the road [ahead]. He’s already far more skilled than I will ever be,” added Dave.
The top two places in the Catlins Rally were taken by four-wheel-drive cars, with Vaughan Edie (Mitsubishi Evo 8) winning from Andrew Graves (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3) from third placed Derek Ayson(Ford Escort Mk 2) and then Pettigrew.
Ari’s first rally event was his hometown Canterbury Rally back in June, a round of the New Zealand Championship. His final drive for the season will be the annual Royce Watson Memorial Hanmer Rally early next month.
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