BNT Mason Motorsport win home rally at Wairarapa

Double New Zealand Rally Champion Richard Mason and Co-driver wife Sara have put in their best performance of the 2010 NZ Rally Championship [NZRC] season by winning their ‘Home’ rally – the TrustHouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa – which took place this weekend – September 11 – 12.

Powering their Prodrive-built BNT Subaru to Top Four placings on all 13 stages, the Masterton Flyers’ consistency was rewarded with a 43 second winning margin over the new National Champion, Dean Sumner.

 “After Nelson we knew we were on the right track with how to get the best out of the new car, and the win this weekend has confirmed that – well and truly,” said a very happy Richard.

 “In fact, it’s been really neat today to realise just how much we have achieved in improving the handling and setup, as on several occasions, I found myself coming out of corners and thinking ‘You could have gone through there a lot more committed because the car has so much more to give now’.

“So Nelson gave us the confidence to get back to our old style, of biding our time and knowing when to make our move.”

And so it proved as the Masons targeted the new very tricky Stage 4 on Saturday and grabbed a lead that they were able to defend for the next day and a half.

“Once we hit the front, we felt confident we could maintain our lead over the last couple of stages of Day One, and then control things from the front for the rest of the rally.”

This weekend’s success is their first NZRC round win of the year and enabled Richard to finish 3^rd in this year’s championship and maintain his record of podium finishes and round wins in every year he has contested the championship – other than 2004 when he finished 4^th.

It also marked Richard’s 17^th NZRC round win and he is now just one away from 2^nd place on the All-Time Round Winners List, while Sara now has 14 Co-drivers’ round wins to her credit, and is also third on that list.

To keep up to date with BNT Mason Motorsport's progress ­– www.richardmason.co.nz

The BNT Subaru powering to victory at Rally Wairarapa 2010

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