A little bit sideways Rallying in New Zealand, where we like to get A Little Bit Sideways! Up to date Rally News from teams around the country together with event reports.
West Auckland’s Clint Cunningham has finished a frustrated eleventh at the final round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, the Mahindra Goldrush Rally Coromandel, over the weekend.
Cunningham headed to the event looking to secure a strong result after a trying year that has twice seen Cunningham denied a top five finish by technicalities within the rule book.
Things didn’t start well however with a misfire early contributing to only the 18th fastest stage time on the opening test, although Cunningham worked around the issue and moved forward, including a fifth fastest stage time on special stage three, to fight back to twelfth.
More dramas hampered Cunningham and co-driver Thomas Thexton through stages four and five, however with the team able to work on the RCK Contractors Mitsubishi before the two stages were repeated, the speed increased and the pair were able to record a ninth and sixth fastest time, moving him forward a further place to eleventh.
With only two short spectator stages and one forestry stage remaining, Cunningham threw everything at a top ten finish to round out the season, but ran out of distance to regain the time lost and eleventh was the final result, not only in the rally, but the overall championship also.
“It’s a really tough way to finish the season, but it probably sums the season up really well,” says Cunningham. “The whole team has made a huge leap forward this year and I’m really proud of the work everyone has put in, unfortunately we’ve been dealt some pretty rough cards with some decisions outside of our control.”
“I really need to thank our great group of sponsors for sticking with us, some like Puma and McFall fuels have been with us for more than four years now.”
The Clinton Cunningham Motorsport team are now preparing themselves for a busy schedule of corporate hot seat ride days. While spots are filling fast, get in touch with the team for the ultimate thrill.
Press Release by BB Media
