World champion Sebastien Loeb and his Citroen Total team have
slammed the start order rules used in the world rally
championship despite their domination of the New Zealand
round over the weekend.
Auckland's Rob Wylie and co-driver Paul Turner have concluded
the classic category of the 2008 New Zealand Rally
Championship with a maiden title victory at the Rally
New Zealand weekend.
Newly crowned national champion Hayden Paddon took advantage
of Richard Mason's misfortune to become the first New
Zealander home in Rally New Zealand today.
Masterton's Richard and Sara Mason have shown a clean pair of
heels to the world class field at today's opening day of
Rally New Zealand, as leading Kiwis in the Production World
Rally Championship (P-WRC) category.
Finland's Mikko Hirvonen overtook compatriot and Ford
teammate Jari-Matti Latvala to hit the lead after the opening
morning of the Rally of New Zealand today.
Top-billed rally driver Hayden Paddon can sympathise with
Mahe Drysdale's Olympic plight after coming down with a
stomach bug days before his Rally of New Zealand bid, which
starts this morning.
Having the national title seemingly out of his reach has
given driver Richard Mason added incentive to try to complete
a hat-trick in the Rally of New Zealand.
