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.
Christchurch’s Dylan Thomson has made the perfect start to the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, with a class win and stage record at Rally Otago.
Thomson headed to the event looking to defend his Motorsport New Zealand two-wheel drive, Front-wheel drive and Junior championships from 2017. Also for the Otago event, Thomson wanted to beat the Kiwi two-wheel drive record through the infamous Kuri Bush stage, which was held by mentor Ben Hunt and set in the same car Thomson now campaigns.
He and co-driver Amy Hudson were immediately on the pace, setting a time almost 25 seconds faster than their nearest class rival on the opening stage and with a lead of more than four minutes by the time the pair got to stage seven, Kuri Bush, made the decision to chase the record, with conditions proving to be ideal. Their time of 8 minutes 13 seconds was some 12 seconds faster than the record set by Hunt in 2012.
A tough reconnaissance combined with some of the fastest roads in the national championship hampered Thomson on day two, although the 23-year old had opened up such a lead in the overall Motorsport NZ two-wheel drive championship that he was still able to comfortably take victory in that class as well.
“Basically from a results point of view we couldn’t ask for a better start to the season, we’re leading everything we want to be leading,” said Thomson. “Getting the record through Kuri Bush was magic, that was something that I really wanted to do. I said to Amy at the start of the stage ‘Hold on, this one will either go really well or really bad’, thankfully it went well.”
Thomson and his team now turn their attention to round two of the NZRC, the International Rally of Whangarei, on May 4-6.
Dylan Thomson Rallysport’s campaign is supported by Total Lubricants, Riordan and West Transport Pukekohe, Drew + Accounting, Harrier Signs, Rustorations, Mark Rose Construction, LJ
Hooker, Fowler Homes South Auckland and New Zealand, Northwood Beaurepairs, Ford Ultimate Motor Group, Jivan Produce, Dunlop, Hunt Diesel, Ferodo Racing Pads and GHL Tempfence.
Press Release by BB Media
