Auckland driver Clinton Cunningham made a fast start to his 2023 rally campaign and became the inaugural event winner for the North Island Rally Series on Sunday.
The new five-round series began with a single venue contest held in conjunction with the Pukekohe Car Club’s Allport Motorsports Rallysprint at Bothwell Loop Rd near Glen Murray.
Setting the pace on the opening and second runs of the 7.5km gravel course put Cunningham and co-driver Noel Moloney into the rally lead in their Skoda Fabia R5. And their consistent pace on the remaining two stages kept them ahead of challengers Phil Campbell (Tauranga) and Raana Horan (Auckland).
Campbell (Ford Fiesta AP4), who also went on to win the elimination final of the Rallysprint at the completion the day, closed Cunningham’s advantage to just 2.8secs at the end of the four-stage rally competition. Horan, in another Skoda Fabia R5, was 16.2secs behind Cunningham in third.
“We had a plan today and it worked out well for us. It was all about getting more mileage in the car ahead of the Otago Rally,” said Cunningham.
Behind the leading trio of 4WD Turbo cars the top-10 overall was occupied by the class pace-setters.
Hamilton’s Mike Goldsbury was one on the stars of the event with his impressive driving to lead home the two-wheel-drive competitors in his Toyota Corolla DX. Goldsbury won the 1301-1600cc 2WD class and finished fourth overall.
Young Pukekohe driver Zeal Jones (Subaru Impreza WRX) was fifth overall while Hamilton’s Charlie Evans finished sixth and won the over-2000cc 2WD class in his Mazda RX7.
Seventh place went to Tauranga’s Jay Pittams (Subaru Impreza WRX) who won the Pre-96 4WD class.
Eighth placed Justin Glavish (Warkworth) was another impress and claimed the 0-1300cc 2WD class honours while North Shore’s Grant Liston (Honda Integra Type R) was ninth and won the 1601-2000cc 2WD Class.
The opening event in the North Island Series saw 34 registered competitors in action among the 60 competing in the Rallysprint. The next round of the series on Sunday June 25 is the Taranaki Tarmac Rally.
Words: Supplied
Images: Geoff Ridder (Supplied)
