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MASONS' FIGHTBACK AT RALLY HAWKES BAY

By Chris Grant

22nd July, 2008

"Finding a bank in the wrong place" just one kilometre from the end of the longest stage of the previous round at Whangarei, has set the scene for yet another Richard & Sara Mason fightback at the fourth round of the New Zealand Rally Championship [NZRC] - Rally Hawkes Bay - this weekend - July 26 & 27.

The 2005 & 2006 Champion has been competing in the NZRC for the last seven years and ironically for the sixth season in a row he finds his BNT Mason Motorsport Team with a zero points score at one of the rounds.

"That bank at Whangarei has certainly made the mid-season break far busier than we could have ever imagined, or wanted of course," said Sara. "Obtaining the replacement parts and moving the car around the lower North Island to get the work done has sure been pretty frantic at times. It's definitely been a 'Blessing in Disguise' that there was this gap [amount of time] between these two rounds..."

"It's taken a real extended team effort, right from Greg Horne at BNT with his ongoing support and mentoring, Subaru of New Zealand and we just can't speak highly enough of Grant Marris and his guys at Porirua Motor Body Repairs who have been absolutely awesome. The quality of their workmanship is just brilliant and it looks like a brand new car again," said a very appreciative Richard.

As if the work required to repair and rebuild their bright yellow Impreza wasn't enough, the Masterton-based team have also created another WRX virtually out of nothing, so Richard and Dwight [Dwight Scott of ScottSpeed Performance Engines] could continue their Development and Testing Programme unabated at the Waitomo Rally.

"Of course being without the car during this period looked like really mucking us up, but the Boys built a 'Bug Eye' [a version 7 Impreza] from a bare bodyshell in next to no time. Waitomo went very well, in 'ideal' atrocious weather conditions, and we got the chance to give our 'new' yellow one a run at a club hillclimb last weekend.

"So now it's really all up to us and a return to Wairoa on Saturday to take on some of the best Drivers' Stages in the championship. That Cricklewood [stage] really is one of my absolute favourites - and this year we get to do it twice!"

The Masons have an unprecedented success rate at this round. The first two of Richard's 13 NZRC wins were at Hawkes Bay - in 2002 & 2003. Sara won it for the first time in 2005 and then missed a repeat by just 0.4 of a second (the final stage being cancelled) in 2006. They were non-starters in 2007 as they were away at a round of the China Rally Championship.

---------------------------
To keep up to date with BNT Mason Motorsport's progress.

For detailed LIVE Rally Results & NZRC Points

The Tomoana Warehousing Rally Hawkes Bay website for all spectator information, stage times and maps.

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	MASONS' FIGHTBACK AT RALLY HAWKES BAY By Chris Grant 22nd July, 2008 "Finding a bank in the wrong place" just one kilometre from the end of the longest stage of the previous round at Whangarei, has set the scene for yet another Richard & Sara Mason fightback at the fourth round of the New Zealand Rally Championship [NZRC] - Rally Hawkes Bay - this weekend - July 26 & 27. The 2005 & 2006 Champion has been competing in the NZRC for the last seven years and ironically for the sixth season in a row he finds his BNT Mason Motorsport Team with a zero points score at one of the rounds. "That bank at Whangarei has certainly made the mid-season break far busier than we could have ever imagined, or wanted of course," said Sara. "Obtaining the replacement parts and moving the car around the lower North Island to get the work done has sure been pretty frantic at times. It's definitely been a 'Blessing in Disguise' that there was this gap [amount of time] between these two rounds..." "It's taken a real extended team effort, right from Greg Horne at BNT with his ongoing support and mentoring, Subaru of New Zealand and we just can't speak highly enough of Grant Marris and his guys at Porirua Motor Body Repairs who have been absolutely awesome. The quality of their workmanship is just brilliant and it looks like a brand new car again," said a very appreciative Richard. As if the work required to repair and rebuild their bright yellow Impreza wasn't enough, the Masterton-based team have also created another WRX virtually out of nothing, so Richard and Dwight [Dwight Scott of ScottSpeed Performance Engines] could continue their Development and Testing Programme unabated at the Waitomo Rally. "Of course being without the car during this period looked like really mucking us up, but the Boys built a 'Bug Eye' [a version 7 Impreza] from a bare bodyshell in next to no time. Waitomo went very well, in 'ideal' atrocious weather conditions, and we got the chance to give our 'new' yellow one a run at a club hillclimb last weekend. "So now it's really all up to us and a return to Wairoa on Saturday to take on some of the best Drivers' Stages in the championship. That Cricklewood [stage] really is one of my absolute favourites - and this year we get to do it twice!" The Masons have an unprecedented success rate at this round. The first two of Richard's 13 NZRC wins were at Hawkes Bay - in 2002 & 2003. Sara won it for the first time in 2005 and then missed a repeat by just 0.4 of a second (the final stage being cancelled) in 2006. They were non-starters in 2007 as they were away at a round of the China Rally Championship. --------------------------- To keep up to date with BNT Mason Motorsport's progress. For detailed LIVE Rally Results & NZRC Points The Tomoana Warehousing Rally Hawkes Bay website for all spectator information, stage times and maps. 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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