Richard Mason Motorsport - BNT MASON MOTORSPORT HUNTING FOR MORE SUCCESS AT RALLY OTAGO

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BNT MASON MOTORSPORT HUNTING FOR MORE SUCCESS AT RALLY OTAGO

By Chris Grant

13th May, 2009

Following their dominant all-the-way win at last month's opening round of this year's NZ Rally Championship [NZRC], New Zealand's top rallying couple, Richard and Sara Mason, are out to build on their lead at this weekend's Rally Otago - May 16 & 17.

The Masterton Flyers won 10 of the 13 special stages at Hawkes Bay in yet another trademark controlled performance in their bright yellow BNT Subaru - so much so that they finished over 2 minutes in front over the 300 kilometres.

"In my eight years in the NZRC, I would put that down as our best ever start to the series," said Richard, "and it was even sweeter as we can honestly say we never really had to extend ourselves to any great extent all weekend. We set our own pace, which proved to be more than enough to get us home."

With such a great start to their 2009 campaign, the Masons see no reason to change their recipe for success as they head south to one of the most challenging events of the five round series, over the high-speed crests and brows for which this rally is becoming world renowned.

They have won at Otago for the last two years, including winning all 13 stages last year, and finished 2nd the two years prior to that - and one of those was by just 0.4 of a second.

"The Otago county roads are fantastic Drivers' Roads," said Richard. "They are so smooth and flow so well that you can get a real rhythm going and really get the best out of yourself, your [pace] notes and your car."

"Kuri Bush [Stage 4 this year - 15km long] probably rates as our favourite stage anywhere," said Sara, "it's a real rollercaster ride and such a blast when you cross the finish line knowing you have given it your 'all'...and got it 'right'."

"However the forestry stuff is totally the opposite," added Richard, "they don't have the same flow with some parts hard based then soft and very tricky elsewhere...This one really is a rally of contrasts.

"And then there's the weather....We hear there's been snow and 200mls of rain down there in one day earlier this week so, again, it's going to be very different from the warm, sunny, dusty conditions we had at Hawkes Bay.

"However our Dunlop tyres have quite a [heat] range to them, so the cold doesn't affect them a whole lot.

"But it does affect the car. Nice cold air through the intercooler does give our ScottSpeed engine a bit more grunt - which makes our BNT Subaru a bit more enjoyable to drive, especially on the fast bits."

But while they enjoy the roads, making sure they drive all of them will be the priority, as a maximum possible points haul to build on their lead in the championship is the key, if they are to get their hands on that elusive GoldStar after Nelson in September.

"There's no doubting winning Otago on the road for the third year in a row, and extending Subaru's winning record to 6 on the trot, would set us up extremely well for the last three rounds," concluded the double NZRC Champion.

-------------------------
The rally action starts at 4pm on Friday with an indoor Rally Show at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin before the 7:30 Saturday morning departure from outside the Southern Cross Hotel. Completing seven stages to the south of Dunedin the teams return for the 2.15km tarmac Super Special stage around Dunedin’s industrial area from 3pm.

Restarting at 7:15am on the Sunday outside the Southern Cross Hotel, teams have a further six stages, five of them based around Middlemarch in the north before the cars return for a champagne finish in Dunedin’s Octagon from 2:30pm.

Maps and further information can be downloaded from the
event website

Next.... Photo Album

More Items

1st September, 2010: BNT MASON MOTORSPORT BACK ON FORM AT NZRC RALLY NELSON - More

22nd August, 2010: MASON SOLID SECOND AFTER DAY ONE OF NZRC RALLY NELSON - More

21st August, 2010: BNT MASON MOTORSPORT ALL SET FOR NZRC RALLY NELSON - More

1st July, 2010: MASONS DETERMINED TO BEAT NORTHLAND 'HOO-DOO' AT RALLY WHANGAREI - More

7th June, 2010: MASON 'Does it for Stace' BY WINNING DUNLOP TARGA ROTORUA - More

6th June, 2010: MASON DOMINATES FIRST DAY OF DUNLOP TARGA ROTORUA - More

5th May, 2010: MASON TO JOIN WORLD CHAMPIONS FOR WRC RALLY NEW ZEALAND PRESS CONFERENCE - More

16th April, 2010: NEW BNT SUBARU A WINNER ON DEBUT AT NZRC RALLY OTAGO - More

8th April, 2010: CHANGES APLENTY FOR BNT MASON MOTORSPORT AT NZRC RALLY OTAGO - More

10th November, 2009: BNT Mason Motorsport segment in New Weekly Motorsport Show - More

10th November, 2009: End of Season - More

14th September, 2009: Coverage of Rally Oz - More

9th September, 2009: MORE HISTORY MADE BY BNT MASON MOTORSPORT AT WRC RALLY AUSTRALIA - More

6th September, 2009: BNT MASON MOTORSPORT FIGHTING HARD AT WRC RALLY AUSTRALIA - More

5th September, 2009: BNT MASON MOTORSPORT LEAD AFTER DAY ONE OF WRC RALLY AUSTRALIA - More




Home Meet Richard The Team Our Rally Cars Sponsors Latest News Photos Links Contact Us	BNT MASON MOTORSPORT HUNTING FOR MORE SUCCESS AT RALLY OTAGO By Chris Grant 13th May, 2009 Following their dominant all-the-way win at last month's opening round of this year's NZ Rally Championship [NZRC], New Zealand's top rallying couple, Richard and Sara Mason, are out to build on their lead at this weekend's Rally Otago - May 16 & 17. The Masterton Flyers won 10 of the 13 special stages at Hawkes Bay in yet another trademark controlled performance in their bright yellow BNT Subaru - so much so that they finished over 2 minutes in front over the 300 kilometres. "In my eight years in the NZRC, I would put that down as our best ever start to the series," said Richard, "and it was even sweeter as we can honestly say we never really had to extend ourselves to any great extent all weekend. We set our own pace, which proved to be more than enough to get us home." With such a great start to their 2009 campaign, the Masons see no reason to change their recipe for success as they head south to one of the most challenging events of the five round series, over the high-speed crests and brows for which this rally is becoming world renowned. They have won at Otago for the last two years, including winning all 13 stages last year, and finished 2nd the two years prior to that - and one of those was by just 0.4 of a second. "The Otago county roads are fantastic Drivers' Roads," said Richard. "They are so smooth and flow so well that you can get a real rhythm going and really get the best out of yourself, your [pace] notes and your car." "Kuri Bush [Stage 4 this year - 15km long] probably rates as our favourite stage anywhere," said Sara, "it's a real rollercaster ride and such a blast when you cross the finish line knowing you have given it your 'all'...and got it 'right'." "However the forestry stuff is totally the opposite," added Richard, "they don't have the same flow with some parts hard based then soft and very tricky elsewhere...This one really is a rally of contrasts. "And then there's the weather....We hear there's been snow and 200mls of rain down there in one day earlier this week so, again, it's going to be very different from the warm, sunny, dusty conditions we had at Hawkes Bay. "However our Dunlop tyres have quite a [heat] range to them, so the cold doesn't affect them a whole lot. "But it does affect the car. Nice cold air through the intercooler does give our ScottSpeed engine a bit more grunt - which makes our BNT Subaru a bit more enjoyable to drive, especially on the fast bits." But while they enjoy the roads, making sure they drive all of them will be the priority, as a maximum possible points haul to build on their lead in the championship is the key, if they are to get their hands on that elusive GoldStar after Nelson in September. "There's no doubting winning Otago on the road for the third year in a row, and extending Subaru's winning record to 6 on the trot, would set us up extremely well for the last three rounds," concluded the double NZRC Champion. ------------------------- The rally action starts at 4pm on Friday with an indoor Rally Show at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin before the 7:30 Saturday morning departure from outside the Southern Cross Hotel. Completing seven stages to the south of Dunedin the teams return for the 2.15km tarmac Super Special stage around Dunedin’s industrial area from 3pm. Restarting at 7:15am on the Sunday outside the Southern Cross Hotel, teams have a further six stages, five of them based around Middlemarch in the north before the cars return for a champagne finish in Dunedin’s Octagon from 2:30pm. Maps and further information can be downloaded from the event website Next.... Photo Album

More Items 1st September, 2010: BNT MASON MOTORSPORT BACK ON FORM AT NZRC RALLY NELSON - More 22nd August, 2010: MASON SOLID SECOND AFTER DAY ONE OF NZRC RALLY NELSON - More 21st August, 2010: BNT MASON MOTORSPORT ALL SET FOR NZRC RALLY NELSON - More 1st July, 2010: MASONS DETERMINED TO BEAT NORTHLAND 'HOO-DOO' AT RALLY WHANGAREI - More 7th June, 2010: MASON 'Does it for Stace' BY WINNING DUNLOP TARGA ROTORUA - More 6th June, 2010: MASON DOMINATES FIRST DAY OF DUNLOP TARGA ROTORUA - More 5th May, 2010: MASON TO JOIN WORLD CHAMPIONS FOR WRC RALLY NEW ZEALAND PRESS CONFERENCE - More 16th April, 2010: NEW BNT SUBARU A WINNER ON DEBUT AT NZRC RALLY OTAGO - More 8th April, 2010: CHANGES APLENTY FOR BNT MASON MOTORSPORT AT NZRC RALLY OTAGO - More 10th November, 2009: BNT Mason Motorsport segment in New Weekly Motorsport Show - More 10th November, 2009: End of Season - More 14th September, 2009: Coverage of Rally Oz - More 9th September, 2009: MORE HISTORY MADE BY BNT MASON MOTORSPORT AT WRC RALLY AUSTRALIA - More 6th September, 2009: BNT MASON MOTORSPORT FIGHTING HARD AT WRC RALLY AUSTRALIA - More 5th September, 2009: BNT MASON MOTORSPORT LEAD AFTER DAY ONE OF WRC RALLY AUSTRALIA - More


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