Rally Wairarapa is Green for GO

28 - 29 April 2012
Rally Wairarapa is Green for GO!

The 2012 version of the Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa is shaping up to be one of the best. With 60 entries in already, and more rolling in each day, the competitor list is not only looking good on numbers but is also looking great on quality. Combine this with the approval of the road closure schedule by the councils, and the rally organisers are delighted to confirm that Rally Wairarapa is all systems go for a high octane weekend of sideways action, over 28-29 April.

“We are delighted to have this number of entries so early on”, says Committee Secretary Bruce Sollitt. “Plus we know of a number of others who have entries on the way, so we are anticipating 70 or more entries by the time we start”.

Of that number at least 16 competitors will be contesting the Malcolm Stewart Classic Rally, making for a good showing of classic cars and drivers. “Our decision to support the classic rally scene is starting to pay dividends, and we see this here with the Malcolm Stewart competitors now making a significant contribution to the event overall”, says Sollitt

Headlining the event will be the crews entered in the 2012 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, powered by Brother. Having just completed the first round, at the Brother International Rally of Whangarei, it will be the Masterton flyer Richard Mason trying to make up ground on his home event. Having suffered mechanical problems on the first day at Whangarei, the Wairarapa rally will be crucial to his championship chances. However others also struck problems, meaning that they too will be fighting to get their share of the points. This will pit Mason against Chris West, Kingsley Thompson, and Matt Jansen, as they chase Alex Kelsey and Emma Gilmour.

In one of his first trouble free runs, Alex Kelsey is a surprise leader of the NZRC Drivers points. Having also registered for the Total Lubricants Rally Xtreme Challenge, he will have a double incentive continue his good form, as he looks to collect both points with one stone, so to speak.

Rally Wairarapa is unique this season as being the only rally where the NZRC entrants will compete directly against the Rally Xtreme entrants. With two former national champions in the form of Geof Argyle and Dean Sumner contesting Rally Xtreme, combined with the possibility of well known drivers like Andrew Hawkeswood (in his Audi Quattro), Glen Smith, and Neil Marshall the scene is set for a major battle to take the silverware. A battle not seen before at this event.

Certainly the roads will be conducive to a no-holds-barred tussle. Well known as ‘drivers’ roads they provide a technical challenge rather than a mechanical one. “We are grateful to the local councils for their continued support”, says Sollitt. “Their assistance in ensuring the best outcomes for the local community, and for the rally has been greatly appreciated. It has allowed us to bring an exciting and significant national event back to this much loved part of the country”.

The result being that the Tararua towns of Pongaroa and Eketahuna will again be service centres for two days of hard out competition, while Masterton and the fantastic Copthorne Hotel and Resort Solway Park will play host to the event.

Entries are still being taken for the rally, with official forms and contact details available from the Rally Wairarapa web site. www.rallywairarapa.co.nz

Fast Facts
• Round 2 of 2012 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, powered by Brother
• Round 1 of Geartech Central Region Rally Series, (points scoring based on Saturdays results only)
• Round 1 of the Classic Challenge Trophy
• Round 1 of the Rally Xtreme Challenge
• 16 Special Stages, 8 on Saturday 28 April, and 8 on Sunday 29 April
• 253km of competitive Special Stages, 142km on Saturday, 110km on Sunday
• www.rallywairarapa.co.nz

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