Turbocharged Field

The field was turbo charged leading into this round. Whispers of Shane Van Gisbergen attending adding to the hype. The seeded list confirmed it, no pressure teams, very cool. Competing numbers were close to a full field of 50, testament to the lifeblood of the humble rally sprints.

Cars were gleaming at service before recce, very short lived for most upon their return. Pits paddocks housing a mere few on mushy underfoot, the majority field was scattered along the Paparoa roadside to pit and service.

After the morning’s precession, it was time to get into the business. The sweet, sweet sound of cars departing for the start line charge, the final hurrahs of people catching up then sinking down into race seats ready to rock and roll.

Classes were proportioned well although the 1300cc field again appeared light. Business time, round 1, let the battles begin. Teams were on charge straight out of the gates and quickly got into the groove feeling for what the roads had to offer for the day. It was looking good for most but not all. Clinton Cunningham suffering a puncture blipping his chances to launch a serious attack, Rodney James constant overheating issue reared its ugly head again in the MR2 leaving Bruce James also unable to run, dual driving disadvantages.

Lukas Ramsay had his business socks on, leading class B after R1. Mike Goldsbury a mere stone’s throw behind him, while Phil Broadbent was ‘making friends with new wheels’ getting the feel for the new LHD Starlet.

Grant Liston dominated class C, Hondas pulling rank for top 3 in class for R1, followed by Toyota dual drivers Jeff Torkington and Dale Crossley.

Class D’s Charlie Evans ‘catch me if you can’ Mazda, saw a good push from Steve Goodare in the Sunny, welcome back Steve, we’ve missed you! Brad Hill just snaked Barry Gibbs for P3 and JP Van Der Meys was having a good battle with Ray Chubb, just 4 secs between them.

Class E was essentially the 5 min club, Shane Van Gisbergen’s double drive times not counting towards the official timing stakes. Eyes would be on Phil Campbell to see how the planned attack would play out. Down by 10 secs on the first round, do not doubt the series leader. Contending class E drivers had their own strategies in play resulting in very close competitive times.

Class G welcomed Simon Bell back dual driving the Subaru Legacy with Dylan Turner, to add to the stakes for Jay Pittams and Chris Burke. Dylan, still driving like it was the Audi, sat up front with a 5:33 at the end of the run.

Robert Van Gisbergen raised the bar in his quick Ford Escort Mk2 in class H joining the 5 min club. Gary Wainwright responded with a mighty push and Craig Tickle brought the BWM home 3rd in class. The battle of the Ford’s was rife, Brian Best, Stephen Porter and Andy Bowie were knuckling in.

Variable road condition was evident after R1, this was not going to end well. Organizers quiver at the sound of clay, apex’s being chewed away slowly at points. Competitors really dig in and fight for seconds in R2 to claw into the points standings.

Tony Young’s lack of class competition didn’t see him idling about. If in doubt, go flat out, ripper R2 time of 6:01.

Lukas Ramsay was having a really good push until a rerun of his R2 missed time resulted in LH rear hub failure 2 corners in, not boding well for the bridge entry, snaping it right off, collision course immanent. Game over. With the James’s and the Broadbent’s DNS into R2, the remaining class B competitors shaved serious time from their R1 attempts, Mike Goldsbury back in P1 and the Toyota Starlets battling hard for places.

Mark Neilson launched a comeback tour in class C, the Hondas were just relentless. Dale Crossley and Brendon Andrews traded seconds, so too did Dale James and Nick Flanagan. Jeff Torkington, dual driving with Dale Crossley, broke a CV on the start line on his go, grr moment and ended R2 with a DNF.

Class D was a knife fight with Charlie Evans taking P1 over Steve Goodare by 1 sec. Barry Gibbs pulled out a doozie and JP Van Der Meys clearly had his Red Bull in between runs shaving almost 1/2 a min from his previous R1 time to be within secs of Brad Hill in the BWM. Damian Morris next in line for mechanical issues, broken wheel studs on left rear, unable to make the start line.

Phil Campbell was down 7 secs from Shane Van Gisbergen after R2 in class E. Still not fretting, it’s a marathon not a sprint, so to speak. Kingsley’s Skoda was in stealth mode with its different appearance, and he had the Subaru Impreza of David Sievers in his sights. Clinton Cunningham put in an impressive 5:17 time and a fierce battle ensued between Derek Payne, Hamil Pala, Gavin Feast and Phil Macquarie. Bevan Wilson was having issues in this run leaving him with a DNF.

Jay Pittam’s was not having any part of being P2 in class G as the battle of the Subarus continued resulting in a 7 sec lead over Dylan Turner. Simon Bell and Chris Burke very consistent in R2.

The standings were somewhat unchanged for class H, progression for R2 finish times for all, Stephen Porter just 1 sec down from his R1 time.

The clay issue was back into R3, it was unlikely they’d be able to sustain this level of intense driving with the large field on those soft corners. It’s time to pin the ears back and get stuck in, it’ll likely be the last round. No one wants that but also no one wants road damage and unhappy residents either, hard juggle.

Tony Young had troubles leaving him stranded at pits. Mike Goldsbury improving his time still sitting in P1, Phil Broadbent sorted his R2 DNS issue, reacquainted himself with the Starlet and flew into P2 with a 5:38. Russell Jenkins and Cam Mckay rounding out 3rd and 4th places.

Seconds were indeed shaved, the podium of class C was unchanged, team Honda stamped their mark – Mark Neilson, Grant Liston and John Wholley 1, 2, and 3. Dale James consistently completing his runs, getting more kms of seat time in the Ford Fiesta.

Fast chargers Charlie Evans and Steve Goodare would stay out and do the business all day long given the chance, a final time of 5:17 put Charlie just 4 secs ahead of Steve for R3 class D. Brad Hill was taming the beast to see him on the improve again sitting in P3, Barry Gibbs relinquishing the battle having issues leaving him unable to finish.

You can’t help but sit and up and absorb the fast and furious run times of class E. Series leader Phil Cambell, with co-driver Michele Brunt on board, delivered a final push – blink and you’ll miss it for the final times for the day. If betting stakes were on, it’d be a hard choice, but you’d be wise to back Phil. He took out the win for the day, just 1 sec in front of Shane with a 5:55. There’s that magic number again, is it a sign?! Congratulations Phil Campbell!

Kingsley Jones got the job done in the Skoda v Subaru battle with David Sievers. Bevan Wilson got going again to haggle R3 times with Phil Macquarie, just blipping him in a standing’s perspective. Clinton Cunningham DNS and Derek Payne, Hamil Pala and Gavin Feast were at it again, throwing stones and trading seconds.

Strange things happen when you know it’s your last run, Dylan Turner and Jay Pittams kept at it, Dylan ending the day trumping Jay with a 5:23, 3 secs up. Simon Bell and Chris Burke making good gains for final run times.

Robert Van Gisbergen had a moment leaving him off the road, now this is where the stakes change very quickly. Gary Wainwright, Craig Tickle and Brian Best squeezed out everything they could and crossed the finish line in that order.

HCMC organizers had to call it at the end of R3, the road was not in a good way. It was disappointing but it is what it is sometimes, road preservation and resident rapport takes priority over racing.

Below, in car footage with SVG and Brianna Little.

Series points calculators are tapping away and the updated points tables will be published very soon.

1st Overall Phil Campbell

2nd Overall Shane Van Gisbergen

3rd Overall Kingsley Jones

Photo Credits: Ridder Photography, Snoad Photography, Blissful Photography, Wayne Otten.

Big thank you to our event photographers showcasing our favourite sport!

Final Rounds

Round 5

20 August, HCC Hoddle Road regs have been circulated on the CPS Rallysprint messenger chat Derek created, great way to reach out to all. Jump onto the Facebook page to join.

Round 6

19th November, MBOP will conclude the 2023 series by bringing a tarmac round to the series. Kaharoa and Penny Roads 

Prizegiving

Saturday 25th November @ the Northern Sports Car Club in Mt Richmond.

The Northern Rallysprint Series will be teaming up with the North Island Rally Series this year to maximize on prizegiving, particularly given a large proportion of competitors compete in both series. More details to come closer to the event.

Like many others, I would like to acknowledge the recent passing of Allan Woolfe. A long-time sponsor of what is today the Northern Rallysprint Series through his company, Woolf Mufflers.

What an incredible man passionate about motorsport and a true ambassador for the sport.

Woolfy’s last race was held today at the City Impact Church.

On behalf of the Northern Rallysprint Series, our thoughts and wishes are with the family.