Southern Rally Series Kicks Off This Weekend

MEDIA RELEASE
24 APRIL 2009

Southern Rally Series Kicks Off This Weekend

The Southern Rally Series roars into life this weekend when the Eastern Southland Car Club's Wisp Rallysprint takes place in the Tawanui Forest at the Wisp Picnic Ground near Owaka on Sunday. The Tawanui Forest is used as a Special Stage on the bi-annual Catlins Coast Rally.

The Laird Motorsport sponsored series is fought out by drivers and co-drivers who have a residential address in either Otago and Southland from the Waitaki River south. There is an overall title for both drivers and co-drivers plus class titles at stake over the three round series. The titles are highly regarded by southern competitors and are now in their fifth year after being instigated in 2005.

The series will be fought out over three rounds beginning with the Oak Tree Inn Wisp Rallysprint on Sunday. The second round will be held in the Classic and Allcomers Sections of the Otago Sports Car Club's 2009 Rally Of Otago from 15-17 May while the series concludes at the Eastern Southland Car Club's Catlins Coast Rally on Saturday 1 August.

Last year's champion, Paul Cross of Gore, returns to defend his title in the Mitsubishi EVO 4 that served him so well last season. Since the conclusion of last year's series Cross has done a few gravel sprints plus the Eastern Southland Car Club's Teretonga Park event. "We've given the car the once over and we are ready for the both the Mainland Series and the Laird Motorsport Southern Rally Series," say's Cross. Last year the Gore driver took over the EVO midway through the series and immediately excelled. "It's an easy car to adapt to. It all came together very good and we had a good run."

Cross is looking forward to Sunday's event at the Wisp Forest. "I have driven there several years ago in my old (Mitsubishi) GSR. However I am told it has changed a bit. The series will be even more competitive this year with guys like Dean Bond out there in new cars. My goal is to keep the local trophy and give the Mainland Series a nudge."

Last year's Southern Series runner-up and the champion in 2007, Andrew Graves, will compete on Sunday in his familiar Mitsubishi EVO 3. Graves, also of Gore, say's the car is as standard as it was last year and that he will trying, as normal, to win the series. Like Cross, Graves acknowledges that there is stiff competition and say's he will "plug away at it." Looking ahead to Sunday Graves say's he has a pile of old second hand tyres that he wants to diminish and he will be going out to have fun. This will be his first time at the Wisp Forest. The only gravel event Graves has done since last year's series was at Tokanui recently, an event he won.

Sunday's action commences at 10.30am and competitors will each have up to six runs. The results will be determined from the three fastest runs. The event will be signposted from Owaka. Prizegiving will follow proceedings at the Oak Tree Inn in Clinton.

2009 LAIRD MOTORSPORT SOUTHERN RALLY SERIES - CALENDAR

Round 1: 26 April 2009 - Oak Tree Inn Wisp Rallysprint
Round 2: 15-17 May 2009 - Rally Of Otago
Round 3: 1 August 2009 - Catlins Coast Rally

2009 LAIRD MOTORSPORT SOUTHERN RALLY SERIES - CLASSES

Class A: 0 -1300cc
Class B: 1301 - 1600cc
Class C: 1601cc & over
Class D: 4-wheel-drive

2008 LAIRD MOTORSPORT SOUTHERN RALLY SERIES CHAMPIONS

Drivers
Overall: Paul Cross
Class 4: Paul Cross
Class 3: Duncan McCrostie
Class 2: Robert Auld
Class 1: David Scoles

Co-Drivers
Overall: Jared Leebody
Class 4: Jared Leebody
Class 3: Murray Marshall
Class 2: Craig Barclay
Class 1: Glenn Howden

Ends

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