Matt Summerfield has taken his best result of the 2016 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship at the final round, coming home second at the Mahindra Goldrush Rally Coromandel.
Summerfield and co-driving sister Nicole came to the event looking to overcome tough results at the event in previous years.
The pair put a lot of effort into refining their pace notes while their team softened the suspension in the Castrol Edge machine and the pair were immediately on the pace, with two fourth fastest and a second fastest time on the opening three stages. That left them to enter the first service in third place, only one tenth of a second away from second.
The speed continued as the pair moved into second place on special stage four despite heavy tyre wear forcing them on to well used second hand tyres for the second half of the event. The pair backed off over the final loop of three stages, but still in a secure second place and just over a minute off the lead.
“It’s a great result after what’s been a pretty tough season for us. The notes were a huge improvement and the car certainly worked a lot better than we’ve had there in the past,” said Summerfield.
“This one really is for the boys and all our sponsors who have stuck by us this year, we haven’t had a good run until now, so a huge thanks to everyone that has made it happen.”
Photo: Geoff Ridder
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