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.
Josh Marston Rallysport
Press Release
6 August 2013
Josh Marston, piloting his Ford Fiesta R2, is excited about his home event Rally Canterbury, rejoining the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) again with the event set to begin later this week for the first time in 14 years.
The 28 year old driver is looking to get back into the two-wheel-drive class NZRC championship lead at his local event but says he doesn’t believe he will have the typical ‘home advantage’ other drivers are expecting to have.
“I’ve only done the Canterbury Rally a few times and I’ve never used notes at this rally. I won’t remember much of the roads as the last time I competed on here was back in 2011 and they were used in a different configuration,” said Marston.
“The last time I drove in this event, I had my wife Liv [Marston] co-driving for me and while I’d love to have her back in the seat again, I’m stoked to have Rocky [Hudson] join me again. It’s definitely an all Canterbury team so we’re hoping that’ll help us here.”
Hudson, also of Christchurch, has co-driven for Marston for most of the season and said the Canterbury region has good quality forestry roads which are often quite tight and tricky.
“I haven’t done the Canterbury Rally that often, maybe 10 times or so, but I’ve never done it with pace notes, that I can remember,” said Hudson, “but it is great to be at home because it gives our family and friends the opportunity to come and watch us which they quite like.”
Heading into the south island event, Marston sits second in the two-wheel-drive class championship, only seven points behind fierce rival Phil Campbell, of Tauranga, who also competes in a Ford Fiesta R2. With a potential of 30 points up for grabs, the championship battle will continue to intensify with both contenders keen be in the championship lead heading into the penultimate round next month.
“We’re lucky to be competing at home but Phil has been my toughest competitor all year so he’ll be hard to beat I’m sure. We’ll also have to keep an eye on Dave [Holder] as he’s starting to creep up on us too,” said Marston.
“The Rubber Developments Ford Fiesta has been great all season and we haven’t done much work to it since the Daybreaker Rally. We’re hoping it stays that way, touch-wood.”
The base kit for the Rubber Developments Ford Fiesta R2 was shipped from European rally specialists, M-Sport, last year and was the first of its type to land on New Zealand shores before being ‘tested’ at the Silver Fern Rally in 2012, driven by Marston’s father, Leigh Marston, also of Christchurch.
The Canterbury Rally, which doubles as the fourth round of the NZRC, is set to start from The Palms mall in Shirley, Christchurch at 4.30pm, where rally fans can meet the drivers of the championship, on Saturday 10 August, 2013 following a driver signing session which starts at 3.00pm . Crews will then contest over 144 kilometres of closed special stages through the Ashley and Okuku Forests on Sunday 11 August, 2013, with service breaks in Rangiora before finishing back at The Palms at approximately 4.30pm.
Marston’s 2013 NZRC campaign is supported by Rubber Developments, RDL Performance, ILS, Castrol and Signwise.
Media Release: Alana McIsaac (August, 2013)
