Sumner Focused On Second Championship Title

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5 May 2011

Sumner Focused On Second Championship Title

Round 2 of the 2011 Brian Green Properties New Zealand Rally Championship will reveal a combination of tactics between the teams entered as to whether they are ‘in it to win it’ or driving to bring it home to secure valuable points toward the championship. Either approach could be considered the right way to go.

For defending New Zealand Rally Champions Dean Sumner and co-driver Paul Fallon they have a joint focus but one plan – to successfully secure the championship for the second year.

“Our approach to every rally is not to chase the win, rather let it come to us. We’ll be doing what we do best, writing a good set of notes, being totally prepared and driving fast and consistent. A win would be nice and to have our name on the Rally New Zealand trophy would be special, but we’re concentrating on the championship and want to defend our title best we can,” says Sumner.

Rotorua-based Sumner in his ITM Mitsubishi EVO finished 2nd overall at Otago in April, positioning him comfortably in second place in the Championship, just 20 points behind World Rally Championship contender Hayden Paddon.

“We’re really happy with our result in Otago said Sumner. “We’re in our title defence year and to open the season with a top placing is excellent, we just need to keep building on our points and aiming to secure maximum points on every occasion. With the new bonus points for overall placing being so great this year, a finish is critical.”

Rally New Zealand officially gets underway with a free-to-attend driver autograph session and ceremonial start at the Manukau City Centre from 6:00pm on Friday 6 May. On Saturday morning, competitors then depart from Hampton Downs to contest eight special stages throughout the day, including two super special stages run around the Hampton Downs race circuit. On Sunday 8 May, rally crews compete on a further six stages around Raglan, including the iconic Whaanga Coast stage, before returning to Hampton Downs for the final super special stage on the race track, followed by a prize-giving track-side from 5:30pm.

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