Perfect run continues for van Klink

Perfect run continues for van Klink

Kaiapoi’s Marcus van Klink has continued his perfect start to the Historic class of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship after a dominant victory at the Joe’s Garage/Lonestar Rally Canterbury.

After taking two wins from two to start the season, van Klink and co-driver Dave Neill were confident of a third victory despite a strong field. They made the perfect start, not only topping the historic field, but fastest outright two wheel drive in the opening stage.

When good friend and rival Regan Ross retired in stage four, van Klink was left in a solid position to take a third consecutive victory, but still hovered outside the top ten stage times all day in the Chesters Plumbing Supplies Mazda RX-7.

As well as the class win, van Klink survived a rally that saw more than half of the NZRC retire and was rewarded with a solid sixth place overall at the end of the event.

After three rounds, van Klink is the only driver of the 50 registered who has completed every stage of every event and as a result sits fourth in the overall NZRC standings, just two points behind WRC star Hayden Paddon, despite the handicap of two-wheel drive.

“This is an event that hasn’t always been kind to us in the past, but really we couldn’t have asked for a better run this year. Everything came together, the speed was good and we kept out of trouble, it doesn’t get much better than that,” said van Klink. “We’ve had a great run so far this year, so it’s pretty exciting to be battling amongst the front runners overall as well.”

The NZRC now moves to Rally Gisborne on July 2, but before that van Klink will contest the Taranaki Tarmac Rally on June 18 in his Citroen C2 Super 1600.

ENDS

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