Mason takes top NZ championship accolades - Brother Rally NZ

2012 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, powered by Brother
Round 4: Brother Rally New Zealand
24 June 2012

Mason takes top NZ championship accolades at Brother Rally New Zealand

Masterton’s Richard Mason, with co-driving wife Sara alongside, has dominated the local championship competition as the final day of Brother Rally New Zealand concluded.

The Masons scored maximum points in the three-day World Rally Championship event, based in Auckland that also counted as the fourth round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, powered by Brother. In their trademark yellow BNT-backed Subaru, the Masons continued their dominance over a depleted NZRC field by winning six of today’s seven special stages held mostly in the Puhoi and Kaukapakapa districts, north of Auckland. They also delivered top-ten stages times during the two quick runs around the narrow tarmac roads at the magnificent Auckland War Memorial Museum and Auckland Domain. On the first run, Mason had the seventh-quickest time, equal with young French WRC star Thierry Neuville in a Citroen DS3 world rally car. On the second run, Mason matched Citroen’s Mikko Hirvonen and American superstar Ken Block for the ninth-quickest time.

Earlier in the event Dunedin’s Emma Gilmour matched Mason’s pace, the pair quickly breaking clear of the rest of the national championship field as well as running strongly in the overall order for the rally. As Gilmour’s car struggled for grip, she finished day one some 50 seconds behind Mason, but on the second day, traded times all day to reduce the margin to just 12 seconds on Saturday night. Gilmour set out on Sunday morning determined to take the leg win from Mason, but was severely hampered by a brake problem and a holed radiator.

Christchurch’s Matt Jansen continued his excellent and consistent form to finish Brother Rally New Zealand a very strong third in the NZRC field.

In the overall results, Mason took a commendable 13th place overall – and second-best New Zealand finisher behind new Super 2000 World Rally Championship leader Hayden Paddon. Gilmour secure her best-ever result – 14th – in a WRC event, and Jansen took a very fine 15th overall. All three leading NZRC competitors finished ahead of the winner of the Production World Rally Championship class, Argentinean driver Marcos Ligato who finished 16th in the same specification production or Group N four-wheel-drive machinery.

Another NZRC highlight came for Timaru’s Chris West – though challenged by mechanical issues during the weekend, the former champion made a last stage charge to win the power stage and claim an additional three championship bonus points.

The Masons have an all but insurmountable lead in the five round NZRC, extending their lead on the overall championship title to 138 points, 38 ahead of Gilmour with 100 points.

“I’ve got to say we were struggling the first couple of days, especially on Friday night when they pulled the gearbox out and attempted repairs to the clutch, which didn’t work,” said Mason. “Saturday night we got the clutch all going again and today we found driving comfortably brought the times to us. There have been a lot of mentions from other competitors that our time around the Auckland Domain stage was incredible – especially from Petter Solberg.”

Fourth after a consistent drive, Rangiora’s Matt and Nicole Summerfield had their best result of the season to take the lead in the open 4WD class from Coromandel’s Alex Kelsey, who led both the overall championship and open 4WD earlier in the season.

Nelson’s Ben Hunt and co-driver Tony Rawstorn also performed consistently in their Ford Fiesta to take the lead in the Group N 2WD category title race. The pair finished fifth in the NZRC field and, more significantly, was the first 2WD crew home in the whole Brother Rally New Zealand field.

Hamilton’s Miles McElwain has come within striking distance of winning the historic category trophy by finishing all three days and collecting maximum bonus points usually scooped by current leader Marcus van Klink. Van Klink still leads the historic class with 126 points to McElwain’s 104.

A notable omission from Sunday’s results was Rotorua youngster Sloan Cox, who misjudged the exit of the final turn during today’s opening Auckland Domain stage and crashed through the flying-finish timing gear and into premature retirement.

With the excitement of international competition now complete for another year, NZRC competitors head to their fifth and final round in Gisborne over the weekend of 25 and 26 August.

News and information about the championship – including driver profiles and team news – can be found on the website www.nzrallychampionship.conz, or follow New Zealand Rally Championship on Facebook.

Attached photo is free to use. Please credit Geoff Ridder. It shows the top-three winning NZRC crews from the weekend’s fourth (of five) rounds of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, powered by Brother.

Brother Rally New Zealand, final overall results – 24 June 2012
Brian Green Property Group, New Zealand Rally Championship field.
Pos., No., Driver/Co-Driver, Hometown, Vehicle
1. 51, Richard Mason/Sara Mason, Masterton, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, 4.20.20.5
2. 53, Emma Gilmour/Glenn Macneall, Dunedin, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, +4.11.1
3. 56, Matt Jansen/Jason Farmer, Christchurch, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, +7.48.3
4. 56, Matt Summerfield/Nicole Summerfield, Christchurch, Subaru Impreza, +17.50.8
5. 61, Ben Hunt/Tony Rawstorn, Nelson, Ford Fiesta ST, +22.40.1
6. 162, Miles McElwain/Dennis Carson, Hamilton, Toyota Corolla, +39.22.3
7. 57, Brian Green/Fleur Pedersen, Palmerston North, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, +50.54.7
8. 52, Chris West/Chris Cobham, Timaru, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, +53.06.0

Championship points are available here.

Calendar: 2012 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, powered by Brother
Round 1 – 30 March to 1 April – Brother International Rally of Whangarei (NZRC / APRC)
Round 2 – 27 to 29 April – Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa (NZRC)
Round 3 – 25 to 27 May – DriveSouth Rally Otago (NZRC)
Round 4 – 21 to 24 June – Brother Rally New Zealand (NZRC / WRC and incorporating Possum Bourne Memorial Rally)
Round 5 – 25 to 26 August – Rally Gisborne (NZRC)

ENDS

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