Marcus van Klink heads to the fourth round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, Rally Gisborne, keen to continue his run of top results.
In what has been a staggering performance all season, van Klink has taken three victories from three starts in the Historic field, but also has placed the Chesters Plumbing Supplies Mazda RX-7 fourth outright in the championship standings, only two points behind WRC star Hayden Paddon. With Paddon not competing in any remaining rounds, van Klink and Dave Neill see themselves seeded third for the event, despite driving a thirty year old two-wheel drive car.
With his closest rival in the Historic field not entering the Gisborne event, van Klink can’t be caught and has effectively secured a fourth national championship in the class, so his focus turns to seeing just how far forward he can get in the overall championship standings.
One thing working against van Klink is the championship scoring structure which sees each team forced to drop one of the four rounds. As the only car from the field of more than 50 to have completed each of the three rounds, van Klink is the only one that will actually drop any of his points accrued.
“Gisborne should be a lot of fun, there is no pressure on us at all and we can just go out and have fun,” says van Klink. “Having said that, I’d really like to try get right up in the overall standings. How cool would it be to win the overall title in a classic?”
The 2016 Rally Gisborne takes place on July 2. Crews take on six special stages totalling 150 kilometres before returning to Gisborne for the ceremonial finish at Reads Quay from 6.25pm.
Photo: Geoff Ridder
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