BNT MASON MOTORSPORT MAKE IT SEVEN AT RALLY WAIRARAPA
By Chris Grant
30th April, 2012
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Richard & Sara Mason celebrate their 7th victory at Rally Wairarapa. Photographer: Geoff Ridder |
In it’s current form, Rally Wairarapa debuted in the NZRC in 2005 and the Triple Champions have now won this round 7 of the 8 times it has been held.
This victory also sees Richard become only the second driver in NZRC history to have won 20 rounds of the championship and he is now just two behind Neil Allport.Sara has also moved up the Co-driver rankings to be tied for second with Rob Ryan on 17 wins.
"It really has turned into a very special weekend," said Richard. "Seven Wairarapa wins is quite a milestone and it [winning rallies] never stops feeling good, particularly when your pre-event plan gets executed so well. It's always nice to win your home round."
The Masterton Flyers claimed their win with a measured, tactical approach that saw them start steadily, and by setting fastest times on 9 of the 16 stages, they relentlessly increased their lead to eventually come home over one minute clear of the rest of the field.
So by winning both days and the rally, 2nd place - by just 0.35 of a second - on the power stage was the only thing that prevented a maximum points haul for the weekend.
"Once again we were pipped at the post in the Power Stage, but to come away with 41 of a possible 42 points is awesome and has brought us right back into [NZRC title] contention."
"The car ran fautlessly. The new ScottSpeed Performance Engines engine and the MCA Suspension certainly did us proud," said Richard, "and the new-spec Dunlop tyres were just ideal for the conditions. It also almost goes without saying that the BNT Mason Motorsport Service Crew did an awesome job, and especially as they had to work in some pretty tough conditions too."
This near perfect result means the Masons have rocketed up into 2nd place on the NZRC points table and are now right back in the championship race as the series heads south to the DriveSouth Rally Otago in four weeks' time.
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