Rally Xtreme Revs Back Into Action

Rally Xtreme Revs Back Into Action

After a short hiatus the Total Lubricants Rally Xtreme Challenge revs back into life with the support of RCK Contractors, as round 4 of the series heads to picturesque Paihia for the Tanoa Hotels Rally of the North. Covering 183km of competition gravel on Saturday 17th August, this event will certainly provide a challenging test for the competitors as they chase vital points in the rundown to the 2013 season.

A testament to this is the tightly pack field of Xtreme competitors heading the entry list. With only 5 points separating Geof Argyle from Dylan Turner, the top seeds certainly won’t be pulling any punches.

With plenty of recent seat time, Graham Featherstone will also be looking for good results as he defends his third place in the overall points. However Nigel Adams was one to star at the last round, where he finished a close second to Argyle at the GoPro Daybreaker Rally, and if he continues his run of form he will be once again threatening the podium.

Another whose fortunes are on the rise is Paul de Rose after he sorted initial teething problems with his Lancer Evo 7. 6th in the main XT class on his last outing was not that far from knocking off many of the more experienced campaigners.

Also returning is series sponsor Brian Green, after he again is maintaining a good pace from recent events. While Dave Strong is back in his Ford Fiesta S2000 as he concentrates his efforts on the northern roads, and the Rally Xtreme points, where he sits 5th overall.

The battle for the 2WD honours looks set to be between Grant Liston in his Integra, and Tony McConachy in his Hyabusa Starlet. With mechanical problems at earlier rounds, McConachy is well down on points, but his overall record is good and he will be trying to erase last years disappointment of not finishing this rally. Meanwhile Liston will be looking to bag as many points as possible as he looks to improve on his 8th overall.

Starting in Paihia, the rally heads south for the first block of stages, before heading west of KeriKeri for the afternoon, to finish back in Paihia at 5.40pm. As the longest event of the Rally Xtreme season the competitors will have to pace themselves to ensure a result, as opposed to the more sprint type events earlier in the year. Boasting two stages at over 30km long, and another at 28km, the driver’s concentration levels will be tested hard.

Last year the event proved very challenging, with a 40% retirement rate. Hopefully this year the Rally Xtreme competitors will be prepared. Especially as this event will feature two $500 cash prizes for the Power Stage. Contested over the 21km long Gilmour stage, the two classes eligible will be the XT Class (Sponsored by Te Rapa Automotive Repairs – Dyno Tuning Specialists) and the XT3 - Club 2WD class (Sponsored by Roger Davies – Drive A Sprintcar, Auckland). Certainly the XT class will be highly competitive, with any one of a number capable of taking the stage win.

Spectator maps and event information is available at www.sultants.wordpress.com or by following their Facebook page - Rally of the North.

For full results, live as they happen, visit www.chrissport.co.nz

ENDS

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