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.
this weekend hoping to secure their maiden rally title.
Photo credit : Geoff Ridder
NZ Rally Championship – Rnd 6 (Masterton)
Christchurch rally driver Hamish Anderson knows what it’s like to be on match-point as he heads towards winning his maiden national rally title this weekend.
However, unlike Team New Zealand at the recent America’s Cup, Anderson can finish second at Rally Wairarapa and still win the NZ Open Two-Wheel drive championship.
Anderson heads to the national season finale in the strongest points position to win but is well aware that he must reach the finish of the rally to be assured of the national crown.
With just one round remaining, that has left Anderson and co-driver Sarah Brennan in a strong position to win the title in their rookie season.
After a horror start to their season, Anderson and co-driver Sarah Brennan have consistently finished in the top placings at recent rounds and put themselves back in title contention at the penultimate round, the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally.
“According to the entry list and those entered in our class, we just need to finish to win,” said Anderson.
The pair head to the Masterton-based finale this weekend following a second in class at the recent Spring Rally at Timaru in their Toyota Levin and class victory in the Mainland Rally Series.
“The last time I did the Spring Rally I co-drove for my father in an [Mitsubishi] Evo 3. That was back in 2009 and now I’ve driven it and come second in our class,” said Anderson.
The opportunity to run the car at Timaru before the national championship finale also highlighted a couple of car issues that Anderson is pleased they discovered then and not at Wairarapa this weekend.
“Just a couple of niggling throttle issues that stopped the car so I’m pleased it happened there and not up north,” he added.
“A special thanks to Rob Moore, who’s spent a lot of time over these past few weeks helping to prepare the car for our final rally of the season.”
The Anderson rally team are supported by Goodyear, Rally Tyres NZ Ltd, Mammoth Web, Autolign, Dunlop and P J Repairs.
