Summerfield’s win Spring Rally

| Photographer Credit: Terry Marshall/Euan Cameron Photography

Matt and Nicole Summerfield have convincingly won the Stadium Finance Spring Rally after eight dusty Special Stages on Saturday. The brother and sister pairing (Mitsubishi Mirage AP4) won by nearly a minute from Robbie Stokes/Amy Stokes (Ford Fiesta AP4) with Josh Marston/Andrew Graves (Holden Barina AP4) third.

It was only the second rally for the Summerfield’s new AP4 car and their first foray with pace notes in that car.

“Great result,” commented Matt Summerfield. “The car has gone all right, nice to drive and just great getting in a pace note rally on these type of roads.

“It’s been a great day of developing the car, always learning and thinking about different things and what we can develop. I’m starting to get the hang of it!”

While Summerfield was quickest on seven of the eight special stages in the South Canterbury region, the battle for second between Stokes and Marston was intense throughout the day.

Marston held second until the fifth stage when Stokes moved ahead and held a 6.3 second lead at the start of the final Special Stage 8.

Marston then went second quickest on the stage taking 4.5 seconds out of Stoke’s time but fell just 1.8 seconds short.

“We lost some time in one of the stages due to dust,” commented Marston. “Then in the final stage I misheard the (pace) note and and lost some time on a corner. We’ve had a great day. The car has gone really well, so pleased all round.

“It’s been an awesome day, more than I could have asked for,” said Stokes. “It’s great to come out and have a fun day, get some more miles with the car. The confidence is great, the car is so amazing and I am so lucky to drive it on these amazing roads.”

Marcus van Klink/Dave Neill (Mazda RX8) finished fifth overall – Photo: Euan Caneron Photography

Marcus van Klink (Mazda RX8) was first car home in Class C (2WD 1601cc and over) after an all day battle with rival Dean Buist (VW Golf).

Tim Smith (Toyota Starlet) finished 13th overall and won Class B (2WD 1301-1600cc) while Graham Ferguson (Ford Escort RS1800) won Class F (2WD Classic) and finished 14th overall. Jeff Judd had been leading Class F most of the day but faltered on the last stage finishing with damage to the left front of the car.

The event was the third round of the 2020 Mainland Rally Series. Josh Marston holds his series lead having won the opening round at Westland and finishing fifth at the Catlins Coast Rally, won by Summerfield.

Drivers and teams now regroup and prepare for the Lone Star Canterbury Rally 24-25 October 2020.

Stadium Finance Spring Rally Result (Top 10)
Position, Driver/Co-driver, Car, Gap to leader
1/ Matt Summerfield/Nicole Summerfield (Mitsubishi Mirage AP4)
2/ Robbie Stokes/Amy Stokes (Ford Fiesta AP4) +0:59.2
3/ Josh Marston/Andrew Graves (Holden Barina AP4) +1:01.1
4/ Regan Ross/Katrina Renshaw (Ford Fiesta R5) +1:42.7
5/ Marcus van Klink/Dave Neill (Mazda RX8) +4:23.4
6/ Sean Haggarty/Sean Sands (Subaru WRX) +4:27.1
7/ Deane Buist/Karl Celeste (VW Golf) +4:44.2
8/ Scott Jones/Shane Reynolds (Mitsi Lancer EVO 8) +4:50.0
9/ Kingsley Jones/Waverley Jones (Skoda Fabia R5) +4:54.2
10/ Wayne Muckle/Tina Cresswell (Mitsi Lancer EVO 10) +4:58.2

Benjamin Carrell is a freelance motorsport writer and currently edits talkmotorsport.co.nz. He writes for a number of Kiwi drivers and motorsport clubs. That's when he's not working in his horticultural day-job or training for the next road or mtb cycle race!

https://talkmotorsport.co.nz

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