Nathan Quinn will drive Richie Dalton's Ford Fiesta Proto in the Canterbury Rally. Photo: Dave King
“Richie and Shamrock Motorsport have really looked after me well. I cannot wait to be back in a rally car, and while a different Ford, at least the insides should remind me of my past.”Quinn said he contacted Dalton to check on his health after the Whangarei crash, and things progressed from there. “While not a ‘works drive’, it’s a pretty big thing he has done to help us out to get to another event. We both hope that this will benefit both parties. “With the variety of cars I've driven I’m possibly the only Aussie to have driven a Group N, PRC, WRC car, R5 car and now a Proto!!
Richie Dalton will miss the Canterbury Rally because of broken ribs. Photo: Peter Whitten
“The seat time and event experience will be important, and who wouldn’t want to drive a 6-speed paddle shift rally car?”While Dalton recovers, both parties are hoping that valuable testing and evaluation of the car will provide big gains in speed. Dalton was fast in the car at the Otago Rally until engine failure halted his progress, while his Whangarei accident curtailed any chance of further developing the Proto. “In return I hope to get the maximum kilometres out of the car so they can continue to develop it,” Quinn added.
Nathan Quinn won last year's Australian Rally Championship in a Lancer Evo 9.
“I drove the R5 with less than 40km of testing, and the Mini WRC car with less than 50km. At least this time it’s a right-hand drive car!“All reports say the roads are forestry and rougher than your typical Kiwi shire stages. Perhaps being an Aussie hack it might really suit me, as our rallies are nearly all forestry.
Nathan Quinn and co-driver Dave Calder. Photo: Geoff Ridder
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