Quentin Palmer and co-driver Michael Goudie (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) have carried on their season-long winning form, coming home first in the North Island Rally Series (NIRS) in Saturday’s Rally Bay of Plenty.
Having wrapped up the overall title at Rally Waitomo, the pairing never let up and made it their fourth victory over the five-round 2025 NIRS season.
“Thrilled with the win,” commented Palmer.
“We’ve been enjoying today’s stages. It was an interesting morning and a big learning day, with initially lots of dust. The forest was really good, quite flat out, and I loved the Manawahe Road (SS7) stage. The last two were very cool as well.”
Second home were Ben Huband and Corinne Watson (Subaru Impreza WRX), with Andy Martin and Matt Hayward (Subaru WRX) in third.
Also doubling as the penultimate round of the NZ Rally Championship, initially it was Todd Bawden (Ford Fiesta Mk II R5) that set the pace coming in first NIRS car in Special Stage 1.
While Bawden was quickest in six of the ten stages to Palmer’s four, he slid a little wide on one corner, which resulted in a high-speed tyre delamination that dropped him down the order to eventually finish tenth.
Huband’s second place moved him into second overall for the series, seven points clear of William Menzies in third.
Menzies was lucky to finish the Rally after a decent hit to the rear of his car in Special Stage 5. Bawden finished fourth equal overall in the Series with Bradley Stewart (Subaru Impreza WRX).
Menzies’ incident opened the door for Huband’s co-driver Corinne Watson to win the Overall Co-Driver’s title, 17 points clear of Menzies’ co-driver Doug Dolan, with Stewarts’ co-driver Oliver Drake third.
Shane Reynolds was the first NIRS co-driver home in the Rally, sitting with Robbie Stokes (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), who won the NZRC section.
Sam Broadbent (Toyota Corolla) won the fight for the Class B (2WD 1301-1600cc) title after Marc Milner (Toyota Starlet) retired with a mechanical diff failure in SS6.
Milner finished third for the series with Mike Goldsbury (Toyota Corolla DX) in second. Matthew Broadbent took the Class Co-Driver’s title in his and brother Sam’s rookie year, ahead of Mike Goldsbury and Paul Ayres.
John Whooley (Honda Civic) won Class C (2WD 1601-2000) as well as the Clubmans section of the Rally with rival Adrian Sutton (Nissan Pulsar) retiring in SS5 and finishing runner up, with Dale James (Ford Fiesta ST150) third.
Stephen Dill had already wrapped up the Co-drivers Class title after the penultimate round, ahead of Kim Raggett and Clint Sammons.
Chris Ramsay (Toyota Corolla APR2) led Class D (2WD 200cc and over) heading into Rally Bay of Plenty.
However, having not entered, this enabled Brent Taylor (Toyota 86) to share first equal with Charlie Evans, third. Ironically, it was Ramsay who sat in Taylor’s co-driver’s seat for the round.
Taylor also picked up the Driver of the Day award, finishing fourth among NIRS competitors and first 2WD.
Rob Scott picked up the Class D Co-Driver’s title with Matt Priest in second and Dave Neil in third.
Although gearbox issues saw Kyle Percival (Ford Escort Mk2) retire in SS3, he had already wrapped up the Class E (Classic 2WD) title ahead of Nick Flanagan and Mike Vincent. Percival’s co-driver, Findlay Tyack, had also wrapped up the Class title.
Palmer picks up the Class F (4WD 1601-2000) title with a 33-point margin over Bawden, with Eugene Creugnet (Mitsubishi Mirage) in third. Bawden’s co-driver Katrina Renshaw takes the Class F Co-Driver’s title with Shane Reynolds sharing second equal with Dayna Kiekebosch.
Ben Huband (Subaru Impreza) overhauled Menzies’ lead in Class G (4WD 2001 and over), winning the title with Carlin Leong (Subaru Impreza) third, while Huband’s co-driver Corinne Watson beat Doug Dolan by five points to the Co-Driver’s title, with Nathan Roa third.
Bradley Stewart’s (Subaru Impreza) sixth place overall also gave him the Class I (4WD Pre 1996) title over Chris Burke (Toyota Celica), with third going to Shaun Wade (Mitsubishi Mirage).
Stewart’s co-driver, Oliver Drake, beat Stephen Taylor for the Co-Driver’s Class title by 21 points, with Haylee Wade in third.
Nick Flanagan (Peugeot 205) was awarded the RallyDrive New Zealand full day of testing voucher for new competitors.
“It’s been a learning experience this season with a Rally2 car, especially coming out of an (Mitsubishi) Evo,” said Palmer.
“We have got some plans for next year to step up to the NZRC, which we are starting to put together.”
The NIRS prizegiving takes place on 29 November at the Northern Sports Car Club in Mount Wellington.
The 2025 North Island Rally Series acknowledges and thanks the following for their support: Hawkeswood Mining, Semog, Pure Quality Construction, Rallydrive NZ, Paddon Racing Group, ISignit and Online Contractors.
Header Image: Geoff Ridder
