Six past winners amongst Rally of the North entries

Six past winners amongst Rally of the North entries

The title of 2014 Tanoa Paihia Hotel Rally of the North winner will be fiercely contested on October 11 with no less than six previous event winners amongst the 62 entries received and countless other potential winners.

Defending rally winners Nigel Adams and Tanya Gwynne put in an impressive performance last year to take victory in their Mitsubishi Evo 5 and have again shown across 2014 that having an older car will not slow them down.

Two-time winner Stewart Taylor (2012 & 2006) starts the 2014 event as top seed but interestingly has never won the event with regular co-driver Warwick Searle, who will call the notes this year. Taylor’s Mitsubishi Evo 10 represents the latest offering from Mitsubishi and as his seeding represents, will be a hard driver to beat on the Northland roads.

Dylan Turner returns to the event that he won in 2011 keen to be reunited with regular co-driver Malcolm Read, who has been competing internationally. Turner was for many years a bridesmaid on the event but also boasts experience on the roads as far north as Kaitaia that haven’t been used for several years and a highly potent Mitsubishi Evo 8.

Patrick Malley returns to rallying for his first event as a father. The 2009 winner will be keeping things in the family with his mother Linzi calling the pace notes in their Mitsubishi powered Peugeot 208 Proto car. Malley will start right behind Adams, seventh on the road.

10th on the road will be 2007 event winner Kingsley Jones with wife Waverley co-driving. Driving a Mitsubishi Evo 7, the pair have not quite been on the pace of the front runners but close enough that his past experience on some of the roads could hold him in good stead.

2003 winner Rex Vizible has also entered the event, but now runs in the pre-1996 four-wheel drive class so is unlikely to challenge for an outright win.

“It’s great to have so many past winners returning to the event, we are constantly being told the event is a highlight on the calendar for them,” says event Chairperson Anita Greenland. “It will be interesting to see if one of these six can take another victory or if someone else can add their name to the list.”

The Tanoa Paihia Hotel Rally of the North will run on October 11, based from the tourist town of Paihia. As well as Tanoa Hotel Paihia, the event acknowledges its support from MRT Construction, Belair Mitsubishi Wreckers, Hynds Pipes, Manukau Auto Centre, Team Ralliart, Mobil Star Garage Kaitaia, RCK Contractors/Support Jethro Morrow, Maxxis, Red Bull, Sharp, Hydraulink, Diamond Fusion and Suspension Tech.

ENDS

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