A life-long ambition to have a current specification, top-level rally car has come to fruition for Matt Summerfield.
The North Canterbury driver recently took possession of his new Mitsubishi Mirage AP4 rally car and will be a title contender come the start of the New Zealand championship series at the beginning of April.
Summerfield followed a family tradition in rallying when he started in 2008, and 12 years later has finally got what amounts to a "brand new car."
"We've always been with a Subaru, production-based car, and now it's really good to make that big leap, and cool to be in a Mitsubishi and AP4. It's all new but all very exciting," he said.
In recent years Summerfield has been no stranger to pushing for top spots in an ageing Subaru Impreza, even finishing runner-up in the national championship and winning rallies outright.
The Mitsubishi Mirage which Summerfield will drive.
But the technology in the Mirage AP4 is a decade newer than what he's been used to, and although it's a championship-winning car, getting the best out of it and himself will take mileage.
"The driving style is going to have to change a bit. Things like the steering is a lot shorter in the rack and heavier. Just the way the car moves is going to take me a while to get my head around."
Partnered again this season by sister and co-driver Nicole, the duo are keen to get their first rally underway and are planning a competitive debut at the Westland Rally on March 14.
For them both, competing in a car like this is a dream come true.
"Even sitting in it now fills me with so much joy because it's been just such hard work to get to this point, and years and years of not giving up," said Nicole.
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