Rd.3 Wairarapa

	Copyright © SUBARU New Zealand

Richard Mason is back on top of the national rally championship after winning his home event, the Rally of Wairarapa over the weekend. The double national champion blitzed the field in Sunday's second heat, winning all 8 stages in his Subaru Impreza WRX STI.

"We really needed that result after the troubles we had at Whangarei." Said Mason. "It's put our championship campaign back on target."

Mason had come into the Masterton based event 22 points behind Haydon Paddon, but now has a two-point advantage at the half way point in the title race.

While he had the measure of the field on Sunday, Mason did not have things all his own way in the first heat which was led by series newcomer Nathan Thomas, benefiting from his lower start order and the well swept roads.

But Mason charged back in to contention in the afternoon, helped somewhat by Dean Sumner being delayed by cows, which had strayed onto one of the stages.

Sumner finished second overall for the weekend, with a third and second in the two heats.

Fourth overall after being fourth in both heats was Palmerston North's Sam Murray who struggled for grip with his Subaru on the well-graveled roads. Changes to the car's suspension and cutting more grooves in his tyres on Sunday afternoon brought an improvement in times.

Emma Gilmour made a satisfactory comeback in her brand new Subaru, three weeks after destroying her old car. She was eighth on Saturday and setting more competitive times on Sunday when a gearbox problem forced her retirement.


The championship now takes a two-month break until the next round in Hawkes Bay over the first weekend in August.