Quentin Palmer is the one to beat as the 2025 North Island Rally Series (NIRS) has its penultimate round at the Rally of Waitomo on Sunday.
Along with co-driver Michael Goudie (Skoda Fabia Rally2), the pairing are the overall front-runners having won the first two rounds and claiming second overall in the third, Rally Coromandel, in August.
That round was won by Todd Bawden/Katrina Renshaw (Ford Fiesta MkII R5), who will again be on the start line this weekend, and is a potential threat to the current leader.
Palmer has a healthy 30-point lead over William Menzies (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6), with Ben Huband (Subaru Impreza WRX) another 30 points further back, having dropped to third after retiring out of the previous event with electrical problems.
Currently sitting on 40 points and eighth overall, should Bawden win this weekend, it could catapult him into a podium position and with a mathematical chance to threaten Palmer’s tilt for the title.
In the Class results, rookie Marc Milner in his 1600cc Toyota Starlet sits first equal with Mike Goldsbury in Class B.
John Whooley (Honda Civic) has a 20-point advantage over Adrian Sutton (Nissan Pulsar) in Class C (2WD 1601-2000).
In Class D, Jeff Torkington (Toyota MR2) has a one-point lead over Chris Ramsay (Toyota Corolla APR2), while in the Classic Class E, young Kyle Percival (Ford Escort Mk2) has a 45-point lead over Mike Vincent (Hillman Avenger).
Palmer continues to lead Class F (4WD 1601-2000) over Bawden, while Ben Huband’s (Subaru Impreza) is 17 points behind Menzies in Class G (4WD 2001 and over).
The see-sawing battle in Class I (4WD Pre 1996) finds Chris Burke (Toyota Celica) seven points ahead of Bradley Stewart (Subaru Impreza).
The one-day Piopio-based event organised by the Hamilton Car Club comprises four Special Stages totalling 76.8km and approximately 92.9km of touring.
The opening SS1 takes place on a fast, flat section that tightens to a narrow, flowing road. After a short, easy 1km tarmac section, a narrow, flowing road joins a more open, undulating section to the finish.
SS2 starts on a narrow, little-used access road travelling steeply up the side of a hill. It then opens out to a flowing downhill and joins a wider flowing stage (with a couple of straights) till the end. SS3 is a repeat of SS1, and SS4 is a repeat of SS2.
The first car departs from Piopio at 10 am and arrives at approximately 2:30 pm at the final control, also located in Piopio. There is one service area at the Pio Pio College.
Hamilton Car Club appreciates the volunteers and helpers who contribute their time and efforts behind the scenes that make this rally happen, as well as the PioPio College for providing the service park and the catering for purchase on the day.
Event secretary Lyndsay Homes said, “We have a great clubman’s line-up and it is cool to see such a wide variety of cars entered. We hope the competitors enjoy these fantastic gravel roads.”
Header Image: Jessica Barnes / Blissful Photography
