Team Dilusi (Drive it like you stole it) sported a recipe for success at last weekend’s International Rally of Whangarei, finishing with their best result to date.
With a new codriver and crew members, and driving on home roads, local boy Kingsley Thompson used this combination to reel in an impressive 8th overall in the International Rally and 5th overall in the New Zealand Championship class.
There was a tough field albeit, with Kiwi star driver Hayden Paddon and Australian Chris Atkinson battling for the Rally win, and Atkinson eventually taking it across the ditch. A high attrition rate over the weekend especially amongst the international drivers saw many badly damaged cars limping back to service in the Quayside Town Basin.
Thompson was hot out of the blocks on day one, bringing his seeded position of 28th down to 8th by the end of Saturday and maintaining their position on day two, even matching stage times with ex National Rally Champions and top National field runners such as Chris West and Emma Gilmour.
“Overall it was a fantastic event with some really tough competition. We were absolutely wrapped with our team, car and result for this Northland Rally.”
Although the weather leading up to the event meant slippery muddy roads for competitors, especially affecting the team having to start further back in the field and a slight moment on a 5th gear corner got hearts racing, the boys brought ‘Lucy’ home without a mark, topping off a faultless weekend.
The team would like to thank their new crew members for their stunning effort, their local sponsor Keith Andrews Trucks for supplying a fantastic service truck, and Tarmac Northland for their amazing contribution. It was also great to have a couple of their other sponsors, Swanair and Skydive Zone Bay of Islands personally attend the event and help to support the team.
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