Ross scores elusive classic win

Classic Rally winner Regan Ross slides his Ford Escort into a corner on Sunday morning’s...
Classic Rally winner Regan Ross slides his Ford Escort into a corner on Sunday morning’s Stoneburn stage, inland from Palmerston. Photo: David Thomson
Persistence paid off for Regan Ross when he powered his Ford Escort RS to victory in the Classic Rally component of the 2018 Drivesouth Otago Rally Fest.

The Kaikoura-based driver has been a perennial classic frontrunner in recent years but has never before managed to finish better than second. This year, helped by visiting overseas ace Mads Ostberg’s early problems, Ross took his chance to secure a long-sought-after win. Ross did not have things all this own way: the rally opened with eventual classic runner-up Deane Buist winning the Whare Flat stage. Buist, who has switched from a Ford Escort to a VW Golf GTI for 2018, was able to hold the classic rally lead for three more stages before Ross got his nose in front.

After a brief comeback burst by Buist on the twisty Waipori Gorge stage, Ross was back in front again, taking a lead on the rally’s sixth stage he would never relinquish. He took a still-slender lead of 16.9sec into Saturday’s overnight halt, but proved much more dominant on yesterday’s stages to run out a clear winner by 1min 41sec.

Buist was also comfortably placed in second by the end of the event, more than a minute clear of fellow Cantabrian John Silcock in a Mazda RX7. Jeff Judd (Christchurch, Ford Escort) came home strongly in fourth place, pressing Silcock hard over the final stages.

Australian Ford Escort drivers Stewart Reid and Grant Walker completed the classic rally top six, ahead of two more Escorts, piloted by Graham Ferguson (Greymouth) and Peter Scharmach (Christchurch). Tauranga’s Andy Martin (Mazda RX3) came home ninth, while Allan Dippie brought his Porsche 911 to the finish in 10th place to claim first Otago driver honours for the classics.

Despite not figuring in the final results following an axle failure on the open special stage, Norwegian WRC ace Mads Ostberg was impressive once he rejoined the rally, setting fastest classic rally time through four of the six Saturday stages he contested. Further driveline issues on his Ford Escort temporarily sidelined Ostberg again yesterday, but he re-joined the event in time to set the top classic time on the final four special stages.

Former Welsh rally champion Meirion Evans also suffered early problems, but returned to set some solid times on the rally’s second leg.

Others to impress in the classics despite not being classified as finishers included Gore’s Derek Ayson (Ford), who scooped several top-three stage times in his Escort after withdrawing temporarily to rectify niggling engine problems. Mosgiel’s Richie Chadwick (Toyota Corolla) also showed strong form, being the top-placed Otago classic competitor before sliding off the road on Saturday’s Waipori Gorge test.

Ross’ winning run in the classics was good enough to place him eighth overall in the main Otago event, while Buist secured 10th.Top honours in the four-wheel-drive division of the classic rally went to former national rally champion Ray Wilson in an Audi Coupe. Wilson was also classified 21st of the 60 finishers in the overall Otago Rally.

- David Thomson

Add a Comment