A local rally team crashed out of the weekend’s International Rally of Whangarei after a promising start.
Flat Bush-based Matt Jensen (Maddy J) and co-driver Kieran Anstis were on the pace during the opening stages sitting seventh overall in the NZ Rally Championship (NZRC) field and leading the Category 5 field by almost two minutes.
“I was really surprised by our time in the first stage on Saturday morning, to be only 22 Seconds off the leading NZRC driver in a 30km stage was a great confidence boost to start the day,” said Anstis.
Jensen and Anstis carried that pace through the next two stages and slowly worked their way up the leader board posting consistent top 10 times, a credible effort against a field of strong international and national drivers.
Unfortunately the team’s run came to an abrupt stop half way through special stage 6 when a slippery clay-covered corner caused the car to lose grip and under steer into a bank damaging the NZKW Evo 9’s suspension forcing the team out of the event.
“We were having a really good run through the stage and Matt was driving really cleanly,” said Anstis.
“Unfortunately the corner that caught us out was really slippery and there wasn’t much we could do.”
The pair tried to get going again but the impact severely damaged the car’s suspension.
“We need to say a big thanks to our crew for coming out to the stage and getting the car straight enough to get onto the trailer.”
The team’s focus now shifts to getting the car repaired ready to start Rally Coromandel in August.
“We had the pace over the weekend and we will be at Coromandel pushing for a top overall result.”
Follow the team on Facebook #maddyjrallysport
