Team TransNet – Rally Wairarapa report

Looking for a good result to finish the season, Inkster was fourth and only 3.6 seconds off Group N leader Chris West after the opening two special stages, but a spin in the third stage saw them drop back to sixth, but still in touch with the leaders with three stages remaining.

Worse followed on the fourth stage when the TransNet Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 slipped off the road. Despite no damage, the car was gut-wrenchingly stuck and any chance of finishing was gone. After being pulled out the pair contested the days final two stages as they would be repeated on day two and tried different settings with encouraging results.

Day two had a tough start when challenging conditions made life difficult for all crews and Inkster sat sixth after three special stages, however after service and a chance to better suit the car to the conditions, Inkster and Goldring were third fastest, less than 1.5 seconds off the pace.

Stage five of day two was a stage that Inkster had won in the past and he was on for a good stage time again, however cutting a corner slightly too much nearly caused the car to roll. Although keeping the car on its wheels, Inkster went down a bank and was forced to retire from day two.

Team TransNet Extreme now turn their attentions to last years Open Class Evo 6.5, the weapon of choice for the upcoming Ashley Forest Rallysprint and then the week-long Targa Rally.

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