MASON & RANDALL AMAZED BY LEVELS OF SUPPORT AT WRC RALLY NEW ZEALAND
By Chris Grant
11th September, 2007
|
Photographer: Euan Cameron |
"The number of people, whether spectators or officials, who came up and wished us well and urged us on, particularly after our issues on both the first two days, was absolutely awesome," said Richard. "We just couldn't help but be motivated by all the positive feedback we kept getting, and I know it really helped us to 'push' on the final day as we fought to get back on the PWRC podium."
"We have started rallies in China in front of tens of thousands of waving well wishers, but to have such open levels of support from people here will be a major memory for us for a very long time," said Sara.
"We thought we were in for something special even before we started, because when we were at the Pre-Start in the city [Hamilton], we spent over 45 minutes flat out signing autographs," commented NZ's fastest female rally competitor. "And we were both blown away when Peggy Bourne came over in the Service Park with her children, who had said they wanted signed posters of us........"
The Masterton Flyers powered their bright yellow BNT Subaru (EVOETA) up through the Production World Rally Championship [PWRC] field on all three days to claim the final podium position with a blistering performance on the second pass of the world-renowned Whaanga Coast stage.
The time they set on the 29k test beat Richard's own 5 year old Best Kiwi record (in his Group A Evo5 Mitsubishi Lancer) by almost a second per kilometre - all the more amazing considering 'EVOETA' was running with a standard gearbox and a backup, well-used turbo.
This was just one example of the world class pace the current national champions showed, as they repeated their 2006 PWRC performance of, again, being the third non-World Rally Car home, but this time 8 minutes quicker than it took them to cover the same course last year. All this inspite of losing over 4 minutes this year due to their Day One puncture and Day Two gearbox problem.
They recorded their first-ever PWRC stage wins (2), were in the top five twelve more times (3 x 2nds, 4 x 3rds, 2 x 4ths & 3 x 5ths) in the 18 stage event, stats that saw them ranked third fastest in the Sprinter Standings among the 22 PWRC competitors who started this round.
The PWRC Sprinter Standings are an unofficial method of ranking drivers based on individual stage performance. To calculate the Sprinter Score, drivers are awarded points for each stage classification (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1) and the total points are divided by the number of stages completed by the driver. This average score gives an indication of the drivers’ relative performance against their opponents on special stages, while limiting the impact of time loss due to technical problems on stage and penalties incurred. [Source: www.wrc.com]
"It is great to have been able to be the first ever PWRC team to run Dunlop tyres, and especially pleasing to mark their debut at this level with a podium finish."
"We would also like to thank the Syms Rally Team for helping make it possible for us to be in the PWRC this year. "
"It's neat to reward their 'trust' in us by equalling their best result of the season, and to give Car #38 it's third 3rd place finish in five outings so far is very satisfying. We wish them well for the rest of the championship."
The next rally for New Zealand's top team will be at Nelson at the end of this month for the final round of the 2007 Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship.
Extracted from Rally World Magazine - the Official Publication of the FIA World Rally Championship
Mason had a similar story to Arai in his battle to finish third in the PWRC and 15th overall. He led the P-WRC before a puncture on day one relegated him to fifth. He moved back up to second before a gearbox issue dropped him to eighth yesterday, and he again impressed to finish third, albeit with a standard gearbox.
“We are very happy with that performance. Obviously the aim was to win but this sport is about how you fight back and we did that twice, so I am delighted.”
and extracted from http://www.wrc.com/page/PWRCEventReports/0,,10111,00.html
“This has been a bittersweet weekend. I’m really happy with this finish considering the number of problems we have had. I'm glad that we helped for the Subaru 1 2 3 [in PWRC] though. Maybe next year we can do better!”
-----------------------------------
For Rally Results & Information
For further information about the 2007 Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship
For further information about the 2007 WRC Rally New Zealand
For further information about the 2007 FIA Production World Rally Championship
For further information about the FIA World Rally Championship
For further information about the SYMS Rally Team in Japan
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
©2010 BNT Mason Motorsport. Website by Bev Randall