What an end to a great season for Team Dilusi who finished second overall in their home event last weekend, the Rally of the North!
Thompson was hot out of the blocks on Saturday morning which saw the team quickest through the first stage. This stage took its toll on the other ‘local boy’ Stephen Barker who unfortunately clipped a concrete wall, putting him out of contention for a chance at outright honours, a battle that Thompson had been looking forward to.
Stage Two (Oromahoe) saw Team Dilusi lose the lead due to a puncture which caused them to drive the final twelve kilometres without a left rear tyre.
Going into the last stage with a three second deficit to Patrick Malley was motivation enough for Team Dilusi to push for a win, having been in a tight battle with the seasoned National Championship driver all day. But in the end, Thompson was unable to match Malley’s winning time and walked away a close second.
“It was such an amazing feeling to have the support of our fellow Northlanders and to top it off with our best result yet! The weeks of promotional and charity work leading up to the event could not have ended on a better note,” says Thompson.
The team would like to congratulate Patrick Malley for his fantastic drive in the Mitsubishi Evo 9 and well done to another local, Peter Johnston who started 20th in Thompson’s ex-Evo 4 and placed seventh overall.
Team Dilusi would like to thank their sponsors Repco Kerikeri, NDSL, Ralliart and Jim Russ Panel beaters for their amazing support in 2009.
The 2010 New Zealand Rally Championship will be bigger and better than ever with a round of the World Rally Championship running from Hamilton to the outskirts of Whangarei. Don’t miss a thing, keep visiting www.teamdilusi.co.nz for updates.
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