Did I start this latest update with ‘Copilot, write me a newsletter update on the Rallysprint series. Hmm ‘copilot write it more like I do after half a bottle of red wine’. Hmm, no, ok, the old-fashioned way it is.
We’re standing grand two thirds the way into the 26’ series with full round buy-in from our partner clubs, who span from the sunny northern region down to Bay of Plenty’s rolling hills and forestry stages.
It’s been another tough year, sure, but not to be taken out on the unsuspecting rally car. We’ve had slightly leaner fields again this year, at times maybe concern at running events that run close to the breakeven line. You lot always pull through though and come out to play and support the Rallysprint events. We work too dam hard to bow down to financial pressures, these times will not rob us of our weekend thrills. The action’s still smokin’ and highly competitive, teams bring their A game to rounds etching in highly competitive Rallysprint action.
The series allows for all – the Sunday skidders coming out to play, mainly I’m seeing more of the highly tuned pairings, polished and confident, raising the bar high in the ClubSport scene. Our rallysprinters get both sides of the coin from the very start of each competition year right to the end, the familiar ‘gday mate’ greetings with your pals and race buddies, to the part where we get down and into the business.
Our stage notes are bedding in well, we’re still humbly grateful of the support transitioned from Neill Alport into Rally Notes NZ. It’s a strong platform of continued support and an invaluable part of the toolkit. Do you even remember when we had to write our own notes?
We’ve got solid support from Geoff Ridder, as well as other series supporter photographers. Geoff’s been offering compilations of images of you, the humble competitor, round-to-round. It’s huge to come away from events and keep snaps and memories of all your best action shots. I’ve got mine stuck to my laptop riser at work reminding me of the cool sport we’re a part of and why I look forward to key weekends. Geoff gives his time to support the series, so please shake his hand and tell him he’s a champion next time you see him. This time, Geoff subbed in Jase from A Little Bit Sideways to help out with images, thank you Jase, we’re lucky to have so many support channels.
Another great supporter is Graeme Kite with the stage videos he circulates. We love seeing a good rally video about us, this shows more boot is needed on stage. Both need a good tradie jacket with a heater in it [it’s a thing], for the time they spend on the sideline tracking us, especially this winter.
So, round 4, MotorSport Bay of Plenty’s Mangatoi Road. It’s a bit of a beast road, I like it. Ample pits area, ideal for our preferred service park layout. The coffee truck is always welcome, wherever, however, whatever cost, give us our caffeine before we hit the stage. For the chilly morning start at Mangatoi [understatement], 2 x long blacks doubling as handwarmers kept blood flow to the hands. This event had a short tour to the start, then into a chunky stage. I wasn’t sure of what it would offer but it had a bit of everything from open forestry-edge power blasts to more complex internal combinations. Narrow and wide, the challenge seemed to be in bush clad portions, transitioning from light and sunny then straight into shady. Nice flow, few lumpy bits of beware but for the most part, it was a good stage with a lot to offer. I missed the initial memo on the change of start line position, so I spent the first half of recce freaking out as the notes didn’t seem to line up.
37 competitors, down to 36 for run 1 with Blair Richardson having cam belt issues in the Mk1 Escort in the reconnaissance run. I did also hear a rumor of an Evo on its side, which may have been Carl Yallop in the Mitsubishi Evo 3 ending run 1 with a DNF.
This is here say though as I do partake in service park yarns. The 4WDs were plentiful and dominated the initial overall result for run 1. There were also solid run outputs by a splattering of 2WD competitors in this top 16 elimination. I get the sense though the Tauranga regional crews knew a thing or two about this stage, go figure and no bad feels, it’s always a massive advantage being familiar with the stage.
Rob Sutherland in the Opal Mantra, I’m impressed, do you also know this stage well – comfortably making the top 16 cutoff. Who’s going to catch Carl Adnitt though in the Mazda RX8, Jay Pittams in the Subaru Impreza WRX will raise you one and challenge to chase you in-stage. Lee Stringer in the Mitsubishi Mirage and Mitchel Pilcher in the Subaru Impreza WRX will also rise to this challenge, with Daniel Haines in the Mk2 Escort just a pinch behind them.
Big tour back to service via a gorge, sometimes fuel calculations are key as you don’t realize how far tour back can be. Although, as always, it is on the regs, which we all intently study before event day.
Run 2 saw some issues with Glenn Brinkmann in the Nissan Bluebird, Simon Rabbidge suffered a broken CV joint in his Suzuki Swift in stage hampering his efforts for the day and Hamish Condon had issues in the previous run in the Subaru Impreza WRX leaving him unable to rejoin the field. While Carl Adnitt was hitting light speed at the helm, class battles were gathering momentum. Darryl McManus and Donald Welsh were tousling in their Honda Vitz’s in class A. Matt Priest led class B in his Toyota Corolla, Jono Lee had a healthy lead in class C in his Peugeot 309, Daniel Haines in the Mk2 Escort was being challenged by Ian Wood in his Toyota Corolla in class D, Ben Huband was putting in a mighty stake in class E in his Subaru Impreza WRX, Jay Pittams and Lee Stringer had a good old Subaru VS Mitsubishi battle going on in class G and Glenn Cameron in his Mazda RX7 had Craig Tickle in his BWM 2002 chasing in class H.
Overall: Carl Adnitt, Ben Huband, Jay Pittams.
The whipping wind stayed into the afternoon, the sunshine actually seemed more cosmetic than anything else but did offer a beauty backdrop as run 3 commenced. Back into the forest we go.
Darryl McManus and Donald Welsh continued to pace their Toyota Vitz’s in class A, Bruce Airey in his Toyota Corolla was back in the game for a podium position for class B with Simon Rabbidge left unable to continue. Nick Flanagan was chasing Jono Lee in his Peugeot 205, sitting second in class C, Ian Wood gained a time advantage in his Toyota Corolla to Daniel Haines in the Mk2 Escort in this run leaving him slightly in front. Chris Gracie was hunting time in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6, wedged between Carl Adnit and Ben Huband in class E, Jay Pittams was extending the class G lead, and Craig Tickle was shorting the gap behind Glenn Cameron in class H.
Overall: Carl Adnitt, Chris Gracie, Jay Pittams
Getting late in the day, the sun continued to misfire, and the afternoon chillies set in. Run 4 essentially locked in the days racing for a majority of the field, it was a sort of a combined call for last run, unofficially and for many, the reins let out. It’s final drinks with an ear of go hard, but not too hard as you want to make it out alive.
Strangely, the days run times for some were slowing. Those afternoon shadows are a real thing, full respect. Chris Gracie gave it his absolute all in the Mitsubishi Evo 6 in this run and came within 100’s of a second to Carl Adnitt in the Mazda RX8, what a battle, every ounce of it. It’s epic seeing these battles grow throughout the day to result in such a close margin by days end. It’s a long drive for some and I did overhear Carl wanting to retreat home with a long drive ahead. Chris Gracie capitalized on this decision, taking the event win with a final 5th run to secure the event win, congrats.
The day was done and it was another great Sunday racing with mates. Hats off Tauranga/Bay of Plenty racers, you were good. We’d like to see a few more of you up at some of our other events as I think they’d be some real good competition brewing. For now, two final rounds remain, HCC’s Hoddle Road and SACC’s Maramarua Forest. Hoddle Road is up first this weekend, so let the battles continue. This highly rated road brings the competition to a head again with a lot to offer. I’ve had a peek at the entry list, and well done competitors, you’ve pulled through again to make an absolutely epic field – stoked!!
End, Nikki Sim