A storming run from Phil Campbell has seen him take away a stunning top-ten finish and first two-wheel drive in the second round of the Rally Xtreme series, Rally Hawkes Bay, over the weekend.
Driving the Letts Construction Ford Fiesta R2, Campbell faced highly experienced rivals driving more powerful cars in the battle to claim the top two-wheel drive honours.
Despite a spin on special stage two, Campbell and co-driver VentiaFabbro moved into the lead of the two-wheel drive battle on stage four with a time that was not only quicker than all of his two-wheel drive rivals, but also seventh fastest outright.
His good form continued across the afternoon, with Campbell setting a string of four fastest stage times across the middle of the day as he set about opening up a gap over his rivals.
With stage eight based on tarmac, Campbell was at a disadvantage with only gravel rally tyres at his disposal, but with a gap of more than a minute, was able to maintain a comfortable margin, then backed that up with a new two-wheel drive stage record on the event ending stage nine to claim ninth overall and first two-wheel drive.
“We’re really stoked with the result and the speed we got out of the Fiesta,” says Campbell, who now sits first equal in the Rally Xtreme two-wheel drive class. “Now we are looking forward to continuing that battle at the next round.”
Campbell Rally Sport now turn their attention to round three of both the New Zealand Rally Championship and Rally Xtreme series, the Daybreaker Rally in the Manawatu, on June 29.
Photo: Jason Byrne
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