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1st July 2010 By Chris Grant
New Zealand's top rallying couple, Richard & Sara Mason are fiercely determined to lay to rest the Northland 'Hoo-Doo' that has marred their visits to the 'Winterless North' over recent years, when they compete in the International Rally of Whangarei this weekend - July 2 - 4.
“It’s all about finishing this weekend,” said Richard, who did not score any points at WRC Rally New Zealand in early May, when he had clearly shown the pace of his brand new BNT Subaru by leading the Production World Rally Championship on the first morning.
"Yet again, we were right where we wanted to be but, yet again, things didn't go our way and we were forced to retire."
Richard therefore trails New Zealand Rally Championship [NZRC] leader Dean Sumner by 89 points and finds himself in a very uncharacteristic ninth place in the race for the coveted GoldStar.
“The last three years up there have made life difficult for us,” said the Masterton Flyer, "and our lack of results has seriously upset our [NZRC] Championship aspirations on each occasion. So this year finishing both days is an absolute Must!"
“I like the roads but we just haven’t got the results. We’re on the back foot right now and need to finish to give ourselves a chance of getting back in the frame [for the NZRC], as we are already virtually at the halfway point in the series.”
“But this Sport is so weird, anything can happen to anyone at any time – just look at what’s happened already in the two rounds so far this year - other people may have trouble, which could help us get back into contention.”
The International Rally of Whangarei runs from 2 to 4 July with pre-event promotional activities like the popular driver autograph signing session and the official start ceremony taking place in Whangarei’s Cameron Street Mall from 3:30 pm on Friday.
The rally action is on both Saturday and Sunday with stages south and west of Whangarei as well as the very popular spectator stage right in town at Pohe Island.
The official rally map is available from the event website, www.rallywhangarei.co.nz, or free from the rally headquarters at the Quayside Town Basin.
The event concludes with Sunday's official ceremonial finish from 3.30pm at the Quayside Town Basin.
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