Argyle Battles Back into Contention

Argyle Battles Back into Contention

The Total Lubricants Rally Xtreme Challenge has gone from simmering along to boiling hot after Geof Argyle turned up the heat at the MTA / Trelawney Stud Rally of Maramarua.

The overall title race now has Graham Featherstone and Argyle as joint leaders, with just the one event to go. However the Maramaru Rally wasn’t an easy stroll in the forest, as the roads tested both the strategic ability of the drivers and the mechanical ability of the cars.

An initial burst of speed from Andrew Hawkeswood and Alex Kelsey was short lived as both suffered from engine failures within the first 4 stages. However the surprise leader after stage 2 was Matthew Jensen in his pre-2000 class Evo 6, and he continued to retain this though to Stage 4.

Meanwhile not far behind Jensen the dramas were unfolding as both Dylan Turner and Geof Argyle were looking to make up time after puncturing. Shannon Chambers was also on a charge after a slow start and new comer to the series, Dave Strong, was showing just what the S2000 Fiesta can do.

And so it was into the two longest stages of the event, at 28kms each they had the ability to make or break the leader board. Unfortunately for Chambers it was a breakage that saw him retire out.

Argyle took the opportunity with both hands and proceeded to win both stages. Unfortunately for Jensen his rally started to slide as he ran out of brakes, while Turner had his brief turn at the lead squashed by the charging Argyle.

Despite a last minute stage win by Turner it wasn’t to be enough and he had to settle for second behind Argyle. Strong also posted very fast times in the last two stages, to allow him overtake Jensen for third.

However Jensen’s’ efforts were still good enough for the class win and he has drawn in closer to Quentin Palmer and Clinton Cunningham who lead the XT1 pre-2000 4WD class.

While the battle for the lead raged on, it was the consistent driving of Graham Featherstone to finish 8th overall that sees him still in the overall challenge race. With Featherstone and Argyle enjoying an 18 point lead over Craig Stevens, there is an interesting line up of drivers only a rock throw away.

17 points separate the next 5 places and this top 8 represents almost every class in the challenge. With Stevens holding a comfortable lead in the XT3 Open 2WD class, it is the XT1 (pre- 2000 4WD) class leader of Quentin Palmer who has closed in on Stevens to now only sit 4 points off the podium.

With Neil Marshall in 5th overall at Maramarua he jumps a number of places to be 5th overall in the points, While Clinton Cunningham sits second in the XT1 class, he is also just 2 points behind Marshall in 6th overall.

Then come the class leaders of XT4 and XT5. 7th overall is Paul de Rose, while Jeff Judd is only 4 points behind in 8th. Again is was fine drives by these two that have seen them consolidate their lead in their respective classes, and failing a DNF at the last round they should win their class honours.

And so all eyes now look towards the final round of the Total Lubricants Rally Xtreme Challenge. The Rally of the North, based in Paihia, is scheduled for 13th October and a whopping 187km of special stages. All within a short radius of Paihia and Kerikeri this event promises to be a fitting finale.

Rally of the North information is available at www.sultants.wordpress.com/competitors/

Full results for Rally of Maramarua are available at www.chrissport.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 - 15 September - Maramarua Forest
Round 5 - 13 October - Paihia Rally, Rally of the North

ENDS

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