West wins four seasons rally

The Inframax Rally of Waitomo saw almost every season on Saturday. After 8 stages and about 165Km of special stage, 38 cars made it home out of 57 starters. The Waitomo and Ruapehu districts saw rain, hail, lightening, thunder and even a small patch of sun over the day, providing a definite challenge for competitors. Service crews were also tested over the day with the rolling service approach of the rally.

Chris West was home first fresh off the back of his win at the Rally of Whangarei, followed closely by New Zealand Rally Championship leader Hayden Paddon.

“It was great. The concept of going back to servicing opportunities after each stage and the hospitality of the organisers has been fantastic; it has made it a really good day,” West commented on the rally. “The roads were fantastic and the rain was good for us because we wanted more testing in these conditions.”

Second placed Paddon also used the event for testing and car time, though ran in his older Evolution VIII.

“We were out trying a few different things and we’ve learnt a few things to carry on into the national series,” said Paddon. “The older car is a bit different, but excellent day, pity the weather wasn’t fine.”

Rounding out the top three podium places and leading the NZ Truth Xtreme competitors was Glenn Inkster running in another Mitsubishi Evolution. Inkster’s main aim for the rally was to gain valuable points for the NZ Truth Rally Xtreme and Fram North Island Series.

“It was exceptional, a great rally. With the amount of rain we’ve had the roads have stood up amazingly. Full credit to the organisers for actually running the rally, other car clubs would have probably pulled the pin because of the fact that the roads would have got too damaged,” Inkster mentioned. “Best roads in the world, couldn’t wish for a better rally. The fact that it was a non-service park event meant that the service crews had a good time as well.”

First Hamilton Car Club member home, Ryan Burley, running in a new car, also had a good day. Burley finished 6th overall behind the front runners of West, Paddon, Inkster, Richard Mason and Glenn Smith.

The “Weather was horrible and it was slippery, but absolutely wicked roads. I’m pleased with 6th, can’t ask for much more in the new car, we’ve come away with only one dent! Now we go to the Possum Bourne Rally and try to win it again this year.”

The gravel roads of Waitomo and Ruapehu were not merciful to some, but on the upside, a few that went off were able to rejoin and keep going.

The Burley name came up often over the event, both for good and bad reasons. Siblings to Ryan, Nicola and Jordan, had offs on Stage 2 and Stage 3 respectively. But both were able to rejoin after being rescued. Other drivers the likes of Lewis Scott, Anton Meier and Brad Ayling were not so lucky, all three of which were unable to finish Stage 4. Scott had a particularly interesting off, with his car ending up upside down propped up against a mound of dirt some 30 odd metres off the road.

Dylan Turner had a big off on Stage 6 when he hit a culvert and rolled. Turner was initially okay, but his condition deteriorated while they waited for the sweeper car on stage. He was seen by the event medics and then taken to Waikato Hospital for tests and observation but was discharged later Saturday night. Turner’s co-driver Malcolm Peden was checked out also and is fine apart from bruising and a bitten tongue. Both are now taking it easy for a little while.

These are just a few of the stories of the day and most likely the 2008 Inframax Rally of Waitomo will be one of the rallies that will be talked about for a long time to come.

For full results, visit www.chrissport.co.nz

Contact: Steve Burley – 0274-845-483 or Tanya Gwynne - 0272-898-030
For more information, go to www.hamiltoncarclub.org.nz

Photo Credit: Geoff Ridder/NZ Speedsport