9 JUNE 2007

ROSS PROVISIONAL WINNER IN RALLY OF SOUTHLAND 

Kaikoura driver Regan Ross was the winner when the provisional results of the Ascot Park Hotel Rally Of Southland were released this evening. Ross and co-driver Nigel Ross took their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8 to victory by a margin of 2 minutes 06 seconds in an eventful rally. Nelson driver Greg Teece was placed second provisionally in his Mitsubishi EVO 6.5 with Brightwater driver Kieran Hall third in an EVO 5.

There was a long delay after an accident early in the rally at the end of Special Stage 2 at Dunsdale this morning. The incident forced second seed Brad Harris out of the event after a collision involving his car, the event's zero cars plus a rally marshall's vehicle. The incident occurred shortly after the finish of the stage. Emergency services were quickly on hand and rally organisers, the Southland Sports Car Club, are pleased that there were no serious injuries.

Three stages were cancelled after snow fell during the latter part of the week in the south. Ross won five of the six stages that were held with Jeff Judd of Christchurch second on four of them.

Deane Buist of Christchurch was fourth in the first two-wheel-drive car home while Andrew Graves of Gore in a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 3 was the first Southlander to finish in fifth place.  

Third seed John Silcock of Rangiora was an early casualty due to a blown turbo in the opening Special Stage while last year's winner Derek Ayson was delayed with a diff problem.

The rally was a round of the Rally Xtreme Challenge Series, the Mainland Rally Series and the Laird Motorsport Southern Rally Series.

Lindsay Beer

Publicity Officer

Southland Sports Car Club