Jack Hawkeswood has dramatically reduced Jack Stokes’ lead in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, with just one point now separating the pair following Rally Hawke’s Bay, as he delivered a commanding performance in his Vertu Equipment Toyota Yaris Rally 2, leading the event from start to finish and claiming his second round victory of the season. The result means Hawkeswood and Stokes have now shared the championship’s round victories evenly, with two wins each.
The challenge was laid down immediately, with Hawkeswood taking almost 30 seconds out of his championship rival on the opening stage, establishing an advantage that he maintained throughout the event. Stokes ultimately had to settle for third place, behind his Stokes Motorsport teammate and brother Robbie Stokes. Robbie produced an impressive performance to finish second and looked close to his best on the Hawke’s Bay roads.
Quentin Palmer also showed strong pace in his Skoda Fabia Rally 2, placing himself firmly in the battle for the podium and demonstrating that he could be a force on the North Island roads with which he is more familiar. Local driver Grant Blackberry completed the top five while dominating the Rally Challenge 4WD class in his Mitsubishi EVO 10. Driving machinery considerably older than the front running Rally 2 cars, Blackberry particularly impressed with the second fastest time on the opening stage.
The Toyota GR Yaris Rally Cup cars of Australian star Toby Price and local driver Will Menzies finished sixth and seventh respectively, highlighting the performance of the Force Motorsport built cars. Jackson Clendon also made a strong impression in his Ford Fiesta Rally 4, winning the NZRC 2WD class and reminding the championship of his considerable talent.
Elsewhere, Dave Strong claimed victory in the Open 2WD class with his Honda Jazz, helping to reduce the championship gap to absent rival Ari Pettigrew. Phil Macquarie took victory in Historic 2WD in his Ford Escort, ahead of Pat Norris in a Toyota Corolla and Mike Cameron in a Mitsubishi EX Lancer.
The Classics class was won by Hawke’s Bay locals Ben and Charlotte Harding in their Mazda RX7, while Josh Silcock impressed once again in the Rally Challenge 2WD class. Driving a Ford Fiesta, Silcock claimed class honours and finished inside the overall top 10. Josh Keighley rounded out the class winners, taking victory in the Group A Challenge in his Subaru Impreza after previously finishing second in the Rally Challenge 4WD class.
With only one point now separating Hawkeswood and Stokes at the top of the championship, the title battle is becoming increasingly close as the series heads north next month for the two-day International Rally of Whangarei.
