Rally Xtreme Off To a Cracking Start

While the first rocks have been thrown in the inaugural year of the Total Lubricants Rally Xtreme Challenge, the confirmed entry list is looking more impressive every day.

With the Stringfellows Whariti Peak Hillclimb nominated as the shakedown event, it was used by many competitors to prepare for the coming rally season. The conditions and the 7km road provided a tough test for all, and it was experience that shone through in the end as Geof Argyle retained his king of the mountain crown, taking the overall win.

The attention now turns to the first round of the challenge, at the Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa on Saturday 28 April. With the 30 entries already confirmed for the Rally Xtreme Challenge the competitors are busy readying their cars for the challenging roads out from Masterton and Pongaroa.

Certainly the quality of the Rally Xtreme field is of a very high calibre. Featuring two former NZ Rally Champions, in the form of Geof Argyle and Dean Sumner, the entry list goes on to list a wide variety of cars and competitors, that will make for exciting viewing. Everything from an Audio, to Evos, Escorts, and Starlets.

The well know and spectacular drivers include Andrew Hawkeswood in his Audi Quattro, Glenn Smith and Shannon Chambers in their respective Evo 10s, Alex Kelsey in his Impreza, and Neil Marshal in an Evo 8.

Over in 2WD the entry list is just as interesting, with Tony McConachy making his Hyabusa powered Starlet sing, while the Ford Escorts of Chris Alexander and Craig Stevens will not be wanting to play second fiddle. Charlie Evans in a Honda Civic and Dale Perry in a Mirage will also make an appearance.

For the Classic class, it is a trio of Escorts so far. Robert Van Gisbergen and Tony Gosling in their pair of Escort RS1800s, who will fight off Adam Muir in his Escort FJ 2000.

“We’re delighted to have such support so early on”, says series co-ordinator Roger Davis. “The class and quality of the entries is fantastic. We couldn’t have wished for a better start, and it will make for great coverage on TV3”.

With more entries being confirmed each day, Roger has also advised that entries are still being accepted. Plus with a number of the rallys being contested also forming rounds of other series, many are taking the opportunity to register for Rally Xtreme as well to double their chances. This is especially true for those contesting the Geartech Central Region Rally Series, where 3 of the 5 rounds count for points in both the Rally Xtreme and the CRRS, making this rally season a very attractive proposition.

Keep an eye out for the full entry list, which will be posted on the Rally Xtreme web site approximately two weeks out from Rally Wairarapa. www.rallyxtreme.co.nz

Calendar: Total Lubricants RALLY XTREME Challenge
Shakedown - 24 - 25 March - Whariti Hillclimb, Woodville
Round 1 - 28 April - Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa
Round 2 - 9 June - Tomoana Warehousing Hawkes Bay Rally
Round 3 - 14 July - Daybreaker Rally, Manawatu
Round 4 - 8 September - Maramarua Forest
Round 5 - 13 October - Pahia Rally, Rally of the North

ENDS