The titanic battle for championship dominance between Jack Hawkeswood and Jack Stokes has swung in Stokes’ favour after he won the Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland in mid-July.
Hawkeswood led early in his Toyota Yaris Rally 2 before a couple of scary moments when the rain came down around lunchtime. He settled down in the afternoon but lost time to Stokes.
Stokes (Skoda Fabia Rally 2) got better throughout the day and pulled clear of title rival Jack Hawkeswood in the afternoon stages to claim his second career win by an emphatic 24.7 seconds. Jack Hawkeswood was third in last year’s NZRC and had come to the Rally Southland just two points off the championship lead. He has done some events in the south over the years including the Popotunoa Rallysprint which he has won twice but has never done the Wyndham Rally. Some of the early special stages in Rally Southland made use of roads that were originally used for the Wyndham event.
Robbie Stokes (Skoda Fabia Rally 2) struggled for confidence early in the day after a couple of crashes at the previous event before getting into a rhythm and securing a podium finish.
Quentin Palmer (Skoda Fabia Rally 2) was fourth to continue to bank a solid pile of points and maintain third in the standings at the midway point.
Ari Pettigrew (Porsche 911) continued his dominant run in the 2WD class and was first 2WD car home and fifth overall in another impressive showing. He led home Dave Strong (Honda Jazz) and Tim Mackersy (Ford Fiesta) in the Open 2WD class.
Deane Buist (Ford Escort) took a third straight win in the Classics class ahead of Ben Harding (Mazda RX7) and Southland local Paul Cross (Toyota Corolla).
Pat Norris safely brought his Toyota Corolla home to win the Historic class, surviving an early off-road excursion.
Thomas Paul (Subaru Impreza) held off Harri Silcock (Mitsubishi EVO6.5) in a thrilling battle that decided Rally Challenge 4WD by just 2.1 seconds.
James MvIver (Subaru Impreza) completed that podium.
Rory Lawn (Toyota Starlet) pipped Josh Silcock (Ford Fiesta) om the final stage of the rally for the second consecutive event to win Rally Challenge 2WD by 2.3 seconds.
Paul, McIver and Kevin Laird completed the Group A Challenge podium.
