Reigning Australian Rally Champion, Nathan Quinn, will make a fifth start in the New Zealand Rally Championship at the weekend’s Raglan Rally of the Coast, in a fifth different car.
Quinn will be driving an older model Subaru Impreza WRX STI, which is owned by front-running driver, Ben Hunt.
The goal for Quinn is a top three position in the championship, which would be a stunning result against all odds after Hyundai WRC driver, Hayden Paddon, secured the title with a round to spare.
“To be honest, it’s not what we intended for this year when we set out to drive the R5 at Whangarei,” Quinn said.
Nathan Quinn (right) and co-driver Dave Calder will suit up for the Raglan Rally this weekend. Photo: Jack Smith - MA Media
“One thing has led to another. We have not been able to secure the budget for a proper assault at the full championship, which has meant we’ve gone along on a round by round basis.
“Driving different cars at different events isn’t an ideal way to tackle a championship that’s for sure, however, it’s allowed me to develop my driving in a different way, become more adaptable, learn different car set ups and meet a new bunch of great people who all share my passion to rally,” he added.
Quinn’s 2018 NZRC events have been in a Ford Fiesta R5, Ford Fiesta Proto, Mitsubishi Evo 8 and a Peugeot 208 Proto.
The opportunity to drive Hunt’s Impreza is one that Quinn and Kiwi co-driver, David Calder, are grateful for.
Quinn's first NZRC event was in the R5 Fiesta at Whangarei. Photo: Geoff Ridder
“Things were looking pretty grim for being able to make the start of the final round last week,” Quinn commented.
“We had exhausted nearly every possible option of finding a suitable car available to drive in the time we had left to confirm our entry.
“A chance conversation with Ben (Hunt) late last week led to the ultimate sporting gesture in him agreeing to lend me his second car to compete at Raglan.”
In all 74 cars have entered the Raglan Rally of the Coast and will tackle the famous Whaanga Coast and Te Hutewai stages south of Raglan, as well as two stages in the Te Akau region next Saturday.
Quinn currently sits in fourth place in the champoionship, just one point behind Josh Marston, and a point ahead of Matt Summerfield.
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