Bawden first in NIRS at the Ventia Rally of Dargaville Tunatahi as Palmer inherits overall lead
28 July 2024
Todd Bawden/Dave Neil (Ford Fiesta R5 MkII) have finished second overall and first North Island Rally Series North Island Rally Series car home in the Ventia Rally of Dargaville Tunatahi. The event attracted some of the top competitors from the NZ Rally Championship which saw Ben Hunt/Tony Rawstorn (Skoda Fabia Rally 2 Evo) take the overall win from Bawden/Neill with Jack Hawkeswood/Jason Farmer (Toyota GR Yaris AP4) third.
“The best roads in NZ are up here,” commented Bawden. “The stages were mint, hard and fast with plenty of grip. The local support for a club rally has been fantastic. It’s been quite unbelievable the crowds watching even right from early in the morning.
“We didn’t have any issues or problems all day so pleased with our speed and to finish second overall to Ben (Hunt).”
The third round of the 2024 Generator Rental Services North Island Rally Series (NIRS) saw competition over six Special Stages starting and finishing in Dargaville using several roads last used in the 1998 Rally New Zealand, a round of the World Rally Championship (WRC).
The event attracted huge crowds of local spectators who welcomed rallying back to the Kaipara District after an absence of many years with a number of fans reminiscing about the WRC days.
“The support from the Dargaville community has been outstanding,” said Event Chairman and NIRS coordinator Marty Roestenburg. “It was the biggest event in Dargaville for a long time and it’s great to give local businesses a boost as the whole area, Council, Iwi, residents, event partners and the Dargaville community have been right behind the event.”
Fourth overall was Quentin Palmer/Noel Moloney (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5), the second NIRS car to finish with Palmer taking over the lead of the series from Phil Campbell who was not entered in the round. Hayden McKenzie/Shane Reynolds (Toyota Yaris AP4) finished fifth overall ahead of the first two-wheel drive car of Daniel Haines/Matt Priest (Ford Escort Mk2).
“That was a great battle with McCrae (Soper),” said Haines. “There was lots of grip out there today which gives you a lot of confidence which makes it a bit easier to being committed. The roads were magic with a bit of everything.” McCrae Sloper/Dave Christie (BMW328i) finished just 12.3 seconds behind Haines, fifth in the NIRS and seventh overall.
Hunt won all six Special Stages ahead of Jack Hawkeswood and Todd Bawden. While Dylan Turner/Brianna Little (Audi S1 AP4) initially held second overall, a ‘soft’ roll over in SS2 saw the pairing withdraw from the rally. Bawden was able to come home second overall after taking more time out of Hawkeswood on the final stage, finishing 9.4 seconds ahead of the Toyota driver.
Palmer was another to do well on SS6 moving up a place to fourth overall after taking time out of Hayden McKenzie. Palmer moves into the lead of the 2024 Generator Rental Services North Island Rally Series, 15-points ahead of Phil Campbell with Bawden in third.
The fourth round of the NIRS, the Hoddle Rd Rallysprint takes place 18 August 2024 in Otorohanga.
ENDS
Photos are free for editorial use: Please credit Geoff Ridder
Overall Points after 4/6 rounds (Top 15)
1/ Quentin Palmer 95
2/ Phil Campbell 80
3/ Todd Bawden 74
4/ Haydn Mackenzie 60
5/ Shaun Wade 47
6/ Dave Strong 46
7/ Chris Burke 40
8/ Charlie Evans 39
9/ Nick Marshall 38
10= Mike Torr 34
10= David Ayling 34
12/ Nic De Waal 30
13/ Dale Perry 28
14/ Daniel Haines 27
15/ McCrae Sloper 24
Rally Results -Ventia Rally of Dargaville Tunatahi - 2024 Generator Rental Services North Island Rally Series, Rnd 3
(Position, Driver 1/Driver 2, Car, Class)
1/ Todd Bawden/Dave Neill, Ford Fiesta R5 MkII F
2/ Quentin Palmer/Noel Moloney, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 G
3/ Haydn Mackenzie/Shane Reynolds, Toyota Yaris AP4 F
4/ Daniel Haines/Matt Priest, Ford Escort Mk2 D
5/ McCrae Sloper/Dave Christie, BMW 328i D
6/ Dave Strong/Rob Scott, Ford Fiesta G
7/ Ian Wood/Shaun Piper, Toyota Corolla D
8/ Phillip Broadbent/Sam, Broadbent, Toyota Starlet B
9/ Shaun Wade/Haylee Wade, Mitsubishi Mirage I
10/ Mike Torr/Jess Parker, Subaru Impreza G
11/ Jeff Torkington/Nastassia Subritzky, Toyota MR2 D
12/ David Ayling/Brad Still, Ford Escort E
13/ Kaden Wood/Kyle Percival, Nissan Skyline C
14/ Steve Dill/Adrian Sutton, Nissan Pulsar C
15/ Marc Huband/Richard Yallop, Toyota Corolla B
16/ Adrian Smith/Brett Lightfoot, Ford Escort Mk2 E
17/ Jamie Rodgers/Josh Rodgers, Subaru Impreza H6 H
18/ Simon Rabbidge/Connor Rabbidge, Suzuki Swift B
dnf Zeal Jones/Bayden Thomson, Subaru Impreza G
dnf Jay Sharp/Matt Sayers, Subaru Impreza G
dnf Bevan Wilson/Steve Mawer, Subaru Impreza I
dnf Barry Armiger/Alex Parkin, Mazda RX7 D
dnf Rodney James/Adam Miller, Toyota MR2 B
dnf Andrew Treseder/Mark Riach, Mazda RX7 E
dnf Nick Flanagan/Tristan Lees-Baker, Peugeot 205 C
dnf Andrew Bowie/James Featherstone, Ford Escort Mk1 E
Overall Rally Results -Ventia Rally of Dargaville Tunatahi
(Position, Driver 1/Driver 2, Car, Class)
1/ Ben Hunt/Tony Rawstorn, Skoda Fabia Rally 2 evo
2/ Todd Bawden/Dave Neill, Ford Fiesta R5 MkII
3/ Jack Hawkeswood/Jason Farmer, Toyota GR Yaris AP4
4/ Quentin Palmer/Noel Moloney, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5
5/ Haydn Mackenzie/Shane Reynolds, Toyota Yaris AP4
6/ Daniel Haines/Matt Priest, Ford Escort Mk2
7/ McCrae Sloper/Dave Christie, BMW 328i
8/ Dave Strong/Rob Scott, Ford Fiesta
9/ Ian Wood/Shaun Piper, Toyota Corolla
10/ Phillip Broadbent/Sam Broadbent, Toyota Starlet
Generator Rental Services 2024 North Island Rally Series Calendar
Rd1 19 May – Jacks Ridge Rally Sprint, Whitford
Rd2 7 July - SBT Group Taranaki Tarmac Rally, Stratford
Rd3 27 July - Ventia Rally of Dargaville Tunatahi
Rd4 18 August - Hoddle Rd Rallysprint, Otorohanga
Rd5 5 October - Battery Town Bay Rally (NZRC), Whakatane
Rd6 20 October - Newstead Lodge Waitomo Rally, Piopio