Lange Scores Superb Result In Rally NZ

MEDIA RELEASE
2 SEPTEMBER 2007

Lange Scores Superb Result In Rally NZ

Invercargill rally driver Chris Lange has notched up a superb result in his first attempt at Rally New Zealand, this country's round of the World Rally Championship.

Lange, and his Mount Maunganui based co-driver Mal Peden, finished second in the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy Series and a stunning ninth overall among the New Zealand Rally Championship competitors. They achieved the result in their A1 4 Wheel Drive Farm Trucks Ford Fiesta.

The event was Round 11 of the World Rally Championship and Round 5 of both the New Zealand Rally Championship and the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy Series which Lange is contesting this season.

While the World Championship Rally ran from Friday 31 August until Sunday 2 September the Ford Fiesta Series and the New Zealand Rally Championship were decided over the first two days of the event. The local competitors positions at the end of the first two days determined their points in the local championships. As part of the World Rally Championship the event attracts the world's best rally drivers.

"I'm really pleased," said Lange as he watched the final stages of the rally near Hamilton today. "It was an awesome experience being part of the event."

While the overall result was a superb one in the small Ford Fiesta the two days were chock full of drama for Lange and Peden. During the opening Special Stage on Friday morning the duo punctured six kilometres from the end of the stage. Then in the next stage another puncture again hampered their progress, forcing the pair to finish the stage and then tour almost one hundred kilometres to the next Service Park on the flat tyre. One of the biggest hurdles Lange encountered in this, his first World Rally Championship outing, was the fact that the fast, powerful cars of the leading World Championship contenders were tearing the top off the roads leaving big holes and rocks on the corners. "You couldn't get stuck into the corners," said Lange. "It was a challenge and required a different style. I've never seen holes like it." The punctures had also caused damage to the steering. "We spent the second half of the opening day trying to miss the holes," said Lange. However the Southlander
had the benefit of knowing one of his closest challengers in the Ford Fiesta Series, Kayne Barrie of Auckland, was around three minutes behind.

Lange ended the first day in second place in his class and twelfth overall among the New Zealand Rally Championship competitors.

Lange started strongly on the second day of the event on Saturday and was fastest in his class on Special Stage Ten, the Super Special at Mystery Creek. However soon afterwards the clutch failed on the Fiesta and in Lange's words "things went downhill from there."

The clutch problem damaged the input shaft to the gearbox which led to internal damage and Lange also lost power steering. However he continued on, bringing the car home to secure second in his class behind the internationally experienced Mark Tapper and a fine ninth place overall among the New Zealand Rally Championship field.

While Lange had intended running on the third and final day of the event the dramas meant he spent today (Sunday) as a spectator. However his main goals of the rally had been attained and he and the Chris Lange Motorsport Team are thrilled with the result.

Lange is now looking forward to the final round of the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy Series at Nelson over the weekend of 29/30 September.

Chris Lange Motorsport's major sponsors are - A1 4 Wheel Drive Farm Trucks, Macaulay Ford, Mico Bathroom and Plumbing Ltd, Sabelt and Big Red Dog. The team's progress throughout the season can be followed on their website - www.chrislange.co.nz which will be updated regularly throughout the season.

The Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy Series is a new series, introduced to New Zealand rallying this year. The championship is based around the Ford Fiesta ST Group N car. The Fiesta produces 123 kilowatts of power from it's 2 litre Duratec engine and for competition purposes receives a conversion kit from M-Sport in Britain.

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