Queenstown driver Mike Sheehan will step up at round three of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, the Lone Star Rally Canterbury, as he moves out of the Gull Rally Challenge and into the NZRC Two-wheel drive class.
In his rookie season, Sheehan has decided to join the NZRC two-wheel drive class as he looks to progress through the ranks of championship rallying.
While Sheehan was forced to watch from the side lines at the previous round, Rally Whangarei, the Truck Moves Ford Fiesta R2 was in action with Junior World Rally Championship competitor David Holder driving the car, something Sheehan claims taught he and his team plenty of valuable insights, specifically with vehicle set up and team procedures.
As well as changing classes, Sheehan will have a new voice in his ear with experienced co-driver Rocky Hudson joining the team for the event.
There will be a sense of familiarity for the team however, with Canterbury representing the first event the team has contested twice after debuting the car at the event last season.
“We’ve got a lot of new experience coming into the team, Rocky obviously has sat with some of the best, so having him join us is just awesome. We’ve also got some things to put into practise that Dave taught us at Whangarei that will help us try and get near Dylan Thomson, the class pace setter,” says Sheehan.
“This was the first event we campaigned the Fiesta at last year, so it will be great to see how we’ve progressed in the last 12 months.”
The Lone Star Rally Canterbury kicks off with a ceremonial start outside Lone Star in Christchurch’s Manchester Street from 4pm on Saturday. The following day, teams will take on 10 special stages in the Ashley and Okuku Forests before returning to Manchester Street for the finish from 7pm.
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