Strang Brings New Weapon to Catlins

Strang Brings New Weapon to Catlins

After capping off several seasons of 2-wheel-drive success with Mainland Rally Series class honours last year Carter Strang comes to this years Catlins Coast Rally armed with a 4-wheel-drive machine for the first time.

Strang has been a strong campaigner in rallies over many years, firstly with a Toyota Corolla DX and more recently with a Toyota Levin which he took to an emphatic Class B Mainland Series title last year. This year he has purchased a Mitsubishi EVO 6.5 and is settling in well after just two rallies in the car.

"I did a few seasons in the DX Corolla until I wrote it off in quite spectacular fashion in the South Canterbury Rally," says Strang as he looks back on his rally career to date. "Then I bought the Levin. I competed in that for five years and really never wanted to move away from that car. However after winning my class in the Mainland Series last year and winning the class in every single rally for a clean sweep, a real highlight for me, I sold the car," explains Strang.

The new car has great history behind it. "I purchased it after Christmas from Matt Jensen. It is the ex-Dynalink Modems Group A car built for Bruce Herbert. The car won the New Zealand Championship and was then run by Glen Smith and then Matt Jensen."

Catlins will be Strang's third rally in the EVO and he has already made an impressive beginning with seventh place overall at the Westland Rally, including a stage win, and third place overall in the Allcomers Section at the Rally Of Otago. "I'm very happy with the results and I have learnt a lot," says Strang.

Strang, from Wallacetown near Invercargill, has given the car a reasonably good freshen up since Otago with the suspension, diff and gearbox receiving attention. "I have only done two big events in the car but I have learnt a lot as I learn to drive it," he says. "The number one priority at Catlins is a good finish and a respectable result.There are new roads this year so it should level the playing field."

Strang, a member of the Eastern Southland Car Club will have regular co-driver Stewart Robbie alongside at Catlins. He is clearly enjoying the new car. "You forget how quick it is. You get to a corner you used to take in second gear and you are changing from third up to fourth - you are carrying so much more speed. It is actually easier to adapt to than I thought. It is predictable. It handles and it is well set up. It actually feels good going sideways and I am happy going sideways too!"

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