WA’s Tom Wilde has celebrated a sensational result in his first overseas event, the International Rally of Whangarei, on the weekend.
The Verandah Apartments Rally Team driver, who is contesting the 2014 Asia Pacific Rally Championship, was the fastest two-wheel-drive competitor and finished fourth outright.
It was a tough fought event for Wilde and experienced co-driver Bill Hayes, a former APRC champion, after their Renault Clio developed an electrical issue before lunch on Saturday.
“It took us a while to fix the problem and bypass an isolator,” Wilde said.
“We managed to keep going but were ten minutes late into a stage.”
The team earned a one minute and forty second penalty for checking in late and dropped to fifth outright.
It took Wilde and Hayes the remainder of the event to reclaim fourth position from China’s Jun Xu. They managed that feat on the final lengthy stage when they were third fastest over 24 kilometres.
“We're all really happy, especially with our late comeback to fight for fourth position,” Wilde said.
“The roads here were fantastic but, from what I’ve been told, a lot drier than usual and not nearly as much grip as normal.”
“We were lucky enough to be running on Pirelli tyre which were fantastic and the reason we managed to get back to fourth position.”
“The roads here don't allow much room for error. It’s so loose offline, so one slight error and you've got problems.”
Wilde and Hayes next event will be round two of the APRC, the Rally of New Caledonia, in just over a month.
“I think New Caledonia will be totally different again, but for me it's a learning curve, and if you can get to the end unscathed over there you're doing well.”
“I’m looking forward to the challenge after a good points haul in New Zealand.”
The International Rally of Wharangei was won by reigning APRC champions Gurav Gill (Skoda), from India, and Glenn Macneall, who recently returned to live in WA.
The Czech Republic’s Jan Kopecky (Skoda) was second and Victorian Mark Pedder (Mitsubishi) was third.
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