The first national championship win for an AP4 specification rally car proves that the regulations are well on the way to being a success.
Andrew Hawkeswood drove a Mazda 2 AP4+ to his first New Zealand Rally Championship title at Rally New Zealand recently.
It’s also quite fitting that one of the pioneers of the class has been rewarded with the first national title in one of these cars.
A few years after the regulations were announced, there are now several different vehicle makes being used.
From our calculations, no less than 10 manufacturers' cars have been used in this platform.
The Hyundai i20 AP4 in action at Rally New Zealand. Photo: Geoff Ridder
Australia were initially behind the eight ball on the regulations, but are now rapidly catching their New Zealand counterparts.
Many of the NZRC cars still fall under the AP4+ rules (including the Hawkeswood Mazda), and do not comply with the 1.6L engine requirement of the AP4 regulations, but this is something that will be phased out over time.
Yes, the R5 option is perhaps becoming an easier one in terms of removing research and development costs, but in saying that, it takes a lot of effort to get a car like that ‘down under.’
Harry Bates’ AP4 car showed some tremendous split times at this year’s Rally Australia, before engine problems intervened.
The Neal Bates Motorsport AP4 showed some impressive speed in the hands of Harry Bates at Rally Australia. Photo: Jack Martin
Paired against the well-proven Ford Fiesta R5 in the hands of Kalle Rovanpera, Bates was there or thereabouts, proving the category’s potential when compared with the world-standard R5s.
Though the car has not yet been reliable in competition, the young star is arguably the favourite ahead of the 2018 Australian Rally Championship season.
The Asia Pacific Rally Championship has also shown the speed of these AP4 regulations.
The MPart Mitsubishi team, who unfortunately will not continue in 2018, achieved strong stage times over the course of the year with their Mitsubishi Mirage AP4.
https://twitter.com/RallySportMag/status/937457786320908289
Against world-class drivers in R5 cars (Gaurav Gill and Ole Christian Veiby), Jari Ketomaa set fastest stage times during the 2017 season, and it’s a huge shame that the team will not be picking up where they left off in 2018.
With Hawkeswood winning, Bates impressing, and Eli Evans’ MINI screaming, the regulations are well on the way to success. The future looks bright.
Eli Evans thrilled the crowds at Rally Australia with the performance of his AP4 Mini Cooper. Photo: Peter Whitten
Brendan Reeves in the Force Motorsport Mazda 2 AP4. Photo: Peter Whitten
David Holder competed in both the Hyundai and Holden AP4 cars in 2017.
Â
https://rallysportmag.com/paddons-rally-hawkeswoods-title/
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO READ THE FULL STORY
RallySport Magazine Subscription
Select Subscription Level
Select Subscription Length
Recurring Subscription Cost
A subscription to RallySport Magazine give you access to all our rally
content from Australia, New Zealand and around the world – with news,
features and experiences nobody can match.
Our team are dedicated to providing an unrivalled experience which
shares, supports and promotes the sport of rallying.
By clicking "Subscribe Now" you agree to receive news, offers and updates on RallySport Magazine.
If you do not wish to receive marketing communications, you can update your preferences in My Account.
We will commence charging your payment method after the 7 day free trial expires.
If you cancel after expiry of your trial, cancellation will take effect from the end of your current monthly subscription period.
You will not be refunded any fees paid to RallySport Magazine unless otherwise set out in the terms and conditions.
Account Created!
Welcome to RallySport Magazine VIP Membership.
Get ready for your rally news experience to completely transform.
Start browsing news, exclusive VIP content or check out your account.
