Tribute to a Rally Legend

Media Release

Tribute to a Rally Legend

Last Saturday the 22nd of August, fans from all over the Waikato Region and beyond gathered to watch the seventy nine cars that entered the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally.

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Photo: Geoff Ridder

Looping from the outskirts of Hamilton, through Raglan and then right down to the Waitomo Caves, the Memorial Rally consisted of 200km of Special Stages and finished at the Hamilton Workingman’s Club in the centre of town.

Team Dilusi started the day conservatively on Stage 1, a short 5km blast on the old Raglan Rd, choosing to ease into the roads which were very different to anything Thompson had ever driven on before. However Stage 2 was just the opposite with the team of Thompson and codriver Malcolm Peden deciding to go on full attack to post the 3rd best stage time on the world renowned technical stage, of ‘Whaanga Coast’, finishing the stage just 6 seconds behind stage winner Neil Marshall. The team continued to post some very impressive stage times, running in third place overall by midday and pulling into the afternoon service nine seconds down on second place runner, Andrew Hawkeswood.

Ironically it was in the early part of Stage 6, the repeat of Whaanga Coast, that the team had a minor off road excursion.

“Unfortunately the one time we had a moment today was a corner that had no room once we got wide and we collected some rather large boulders on the outside of the corner” commented Thompson.

The team continued the sixteen kilometres to the finish, still managing the 9th fastest stage time, with a very ill handling car, at which point Thompson declared the car too unfit to continue due to a damaged radiator and rear suspension.

“It was an unfortunate end to a very good lift in pace from Kingsley, who has really stepped up to the mark recently and I think we may have made people take a second look at us now!” commented Peden.

Luckily, the repairs will be minor and the team are looking forward to being back in action for the last round of the NZRC in Nelson on September 19th and 20th.

ENDS

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