Photo finish likely in EnergyWise Rally 2004

4 November 2004

Photo finish likely in EnergyWise Rally 2004

With one day to go, EnergyWise Rally 2004 is looking set for a photo finish, not only for the overall win, but for the class placings and Drivers’ Award category as well.

Chris Amon and Sarah Burke still lead in the Toyota Prius at 4.15L/100km (68.1mpg), but the Jacqui Madelin / Naomi Wiggins Daihatsu Charade is close behind at 4.35L/100km (65.0mpg)., with the second Prius of Brian Cowan / Rachael Tucker (Miss Earth NZ) third at 4.37 km/L (63.7 mpg).

Madelin and Wiggins continue to lead the small cars class from the two Honda Jazzes, whilst the Honda Civic Hybrid of Rob and Sue Maetzig leads the compact car class from the similar car of Grand Aitken / Elli Bloomfiels (Miss Earth NZ runner-up). The best conventional petrol car in this class is the Honda Civic Sedan of John McMillan / Mike Stephens.

The medium-executive class is headed by the Prius duo, but the conventional petrol category in this class is neck and neck between the Shaw / Russell Mazda6 and the Summerfield / Allan Honda Accord Euro.

Allan Dick and Keri Ashton-Reid continue to dominate the large / luxury car class, with the Honda Accord V6 of Glenn and Helen Johnstone heading up the conventional petrol category.

Medium Lifestyle / Leisure vehicles ia a tight three-way fight, with the result between the Watkin / Watkin Honda CR-V, the Willmot / Willmot Honda Odyssey and the Drain / Harrison / Miles Hyundai Tuscon going down to the wire.

Richard Edwards and Helen Erikson seem to have a grip on the large Lifestyle / Leisure vehicles class in their Hyundai Terracan Diesel, but the commercial vans (the Addison / Myhre Mercedes-Benz Vito and the West / Freestone Volkswagen Transporter T5), which are producing remarkable figures considering they are each carrying a half-tonne payload, are locked in a tight battle which won’t be resolved until the final day.

The Drivers’ Award, which goes to the team able to better their car’s official consumption figure by the greatest percentage, is equally tight between the Shaw / Russell Mazda, the McAndrew / Morris Integra Type S, and the Johnstone / Johnstone Honda Accord V6.

It will be a tough battle on Friday as the teams battle their way up the Parapara road back to Auckland whilst striving to minimise their fuel use. The final resulte sill be declared at the prizegiving at the Centra Auckland Airport Hotel on Friday evening. For more detailed results see www.energywiserally.org.nz.

ENDS

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