Stacked Field For Golden 1200 Hillclimb

The second biannual edition of the fastest show on gravel, on New Zealand’s highest public road returns in 2022. Hayden Paddon’s Ben Nevis Station – Golden 1200 Hillclimb is set to run in March with a stacked field of hill climb specials, rally cars and motorbikes.

Featuring 12 unlimited 4wd entrants, headline drivers Hayden Paddon and Sloan Cox return to the gravel in their hill climb specials. Both last appearing in this specification at Jack’s Ridge in 2020. Paddon, as the event promoter, is looking forward to the battle at the top.

“It’s always exciting competing against Sloan. From Ashley Forest (Rallysprint) to the Golden 1200, we have contested in this specification several times before. But this will be different, as neither of us have had 700+ horsepower since Jacks Ridge.”

Set to take the fight to Paddon and Cox is Amberley’s Ian Ffitch. Campaigning his iconic super quad, Ffitch will be a dark horse in the battle after a strong showing in 2020. A fourth outright in treacherous Sunday conditions.

Back in 2wd, the field growths in strength from 2020. Chris Hey returns in his Toyota MR2 hill climb special but Wayne Pittams in his Ford Escort and Murray Thomas in his wild V8 Chevette will be battling Hey for the front of unlimited 2wd.

Alongside the battle for the podium, is the New Zealand Crosscar Championship. 12 Crosscars line up for their third round in the series. Current National Crosscar Champion, Matt Penrose, comes in as the favourite. While a mix of young stars line the field, including of Ari Pettigrew – 2021 New Zealand Junior Rally Champion.

A total of 77 cars will line up for the 2022 event. Held in the Nevis Valley on March 5/6^th. Due to current government regulations around COVID-19, spectators will not be able to attend under red light, but organisers are working on options for viewership from home.

ENTRY LIST

Media release by Jack Smith / Paddon Rallysport