Robbie Stokes (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) was too good for his Mainland Rally Championship rivals, winning both the Hanmer Memorial Rally and the 2025 Mainland Rally Championship (MRC) overall title on Saturday.
Stokes, along with co-driver Matt Summerfield, was the first MRC competitor home in all seven Special Stages in the Hanmer Forests, beating second-placed Deane Buist/Richard Fairhall (Subaru Impreza) and Tim Smith/Ben Trevelyan (Subaru Magnum H6).
“It’s been a good day,” commented Stokes, who won his first MRC title in 2021.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet. Matt (Summerfield) did an incredible job sitting beside me, so thanks to him and the whole team.”
Heading into the final MRC round and with a maximum of 30 points on offer, it was Caleb MacDonald holding a slim three-point lead over Stokes, with Deane Buist (Subaru Impreza) and Josh Marston (Holden Barina AP4) also in mathematical contention.
MacDonald chose to sit out the rally to focus on the national championship (NZRC), so it was Marston who took up the challenge, finishing second in the first two Special Stages on Saturday morning. His attack came to an abrupt halt, retiring at the first service with a mechanical issue.
Buist was always in contention across the whole day but ended up 1 minute 13 seconds behind Stokes at the finish.
“The car has been good all day,” said Stokes.
“Everything went really well, which gives me confidence for the rest of the NZRC season. I’ve been comfortable all day and really enjoyed the rally. It’s great to have it back on the calendar, and it has been a surprising amount of fun.”
While Stokes won the overall title, Christchurch’s Ben Trevelyan won the overall Co-Drivers title for 2025, six points clear of Larisa Biggar with Shane Reynolds in third.
Seven separate Class titles for both drivers and co-drivers were confirmed by Saturday evening.
Josh Silcock (Toyota Starlet) finished the event ninth overall, adding to his perfect season, finishing first in Class A (2WD 0-1300cc) in each of the five rounds.
Thirty-six points behind in second was Mike Matheson, with Jak Elliott in third. Silcock’s co-driver, Ben Leech, won the Class A Co-drivers title 30 points clear of Gordon Legge.
In Class B (2WD 1601cc and over), Ian Warren (Nissan Pulsar) sat out the Hanmer Rally, having earned enough points to claim the title after the last round. Mark Greenwood picks up the Class B Co-Drivers title.
Buist had also wrapped up the Class C (2WD 1601cc and over) title after round four and chose to compete in Class D (4WD) at Hanmer.
While Andrew Sim (Ford Escort Mk2) finished first in Class C at Hanmer, he finished third overall with Richard Galley (Ford Escort Mk2) in second. Galley’s co-driver Claire Buccini picks up the Class C Co-Drivers title.
The Class D title goes to Stokes, with MacDonald second, ahead of Josh Marston. Larisa Biggar won the Co-Drivers title from Shane Renolds, with Andrew Graves in third.
Hayden Shakespeare (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3) finished first in Class E (4WD Classic) and takes the Class title from Nathan Fraser, with Mark Grimmer picking up the Co-Drivers title.
The close Class F (Classic 2WD) battle over the 2025 season was resolved with Stephen Gill (Ford Escort Mk2) beating Paul Cross (Toyota Corolla AE86) by 18 points, with Ally Mackay (Ford Escort Mk1) in third.
The Co-Drivers Class title goes to Gill’s co-driver, Grant Molloy, with Janey Blair in second.
Tim Smith/Ben Trevelyan (Subaru Impreza) won both the Driver and Co-Drivers Class H6 titles.
Header Image: Euan Cameron
