Frustration for Cunningham at Wairarapa
There was plenty of frustration for Clint Cunningham at the Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa over the weekend, which
doubled as round four of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship and round two of the Total
Lubricants Rally Xtreme challenge.
Cunningham made a near-perfect start to the Rally Xtreme series in the RCK Contractors Mitsubishi Evo 4 at Rally Hawkes
Bay with a class win and sixth overall, so came into the Masterton based event full of confidence.
The event started well for the West Aucklander on a treacherous opening stage, where Cunningham not only survived the
conditions but set a time that put him eighth in NZRC, seventh in Xtreme and leading the XT1 class for pre-2000
four-wheel drive cars.
Unfortunately for Cunningham and co-driver Greg Ruka, the good run would not continue into the second stage with the car
developing a misfire and eventually grinding to a halt, forcing their retirement.
After working hard to get the car back out for the power stage, the RCK Contractors team were forced to admit defeat
when it was found the surge tank was flaking, blocking the fuel filters and injectors.
“I’m gutted to be fair. We had plenty of reasons to be confident of a good result, but it just wasn’t to be,” said
Cunningham. “At least we can drop our worst round and still chase the XT1 title.”
The RCK Contractors Rally Team now head for round three of the Rally Xtreme series, the Taranaki Tarmac Rally, on July
12.
ENDS