Jim Donald faces stern challenge

Press, 13 May 1981, Page 44

Jim Donald faces stern challenge

By

JOHN FRIDD

Jim Donald, of Auckland, will start in Saturday’s Canterbury national-cham-pionship rally as the reigning champion, but he will face a stern challenge from no less than four top drivers this season.

The Mainfreight 3ZM rally, first round of the 1981 championship, will take the 100 crews from all over New Zealand on a frantic trip round Canterbury, with highspeed special stages in the Sheffield area as well as several in North Canterbury .forests. ' ■ Donald’s sternest challenge

will come from the 1979 champion, Paul Adams, also from Auckland. Both drive powerful Escort RS machines and Donald showed in the Cibie rally in Auckland last month that he may have a slight edge, as he beat Adams by a minute. However, three other drivers will be eager to break the domination of Donald and Adams — Tony Teesdale (Tokoroa), Trevor Crowe (Christchurch) and Alan Mitchell (Feilding). Teesdale has been knocking on the door of the “big time” in his Escort RS for the last two seasons and

Crowe, having had all last season to get used to his Escort RS, could surprise the North Islanders with his speed although he will use a smaller motor, Mitchell has been out of rallying for about four seasons but the experienced farmer has lost none of his old talent, which he proved with third place in the Cibie rally. Alan Hewlett, of Kumara, will start sixth in Saturday’s rally as reward for winning last year's Mainland series and behind him will be Shane Murland, of Wellington. Glenn Mclntyre, of Para- ■

paraumu, will, start at No. 8 in his low-powered- Escort 1600 Sport after his fine showing in last year’s Motogard rally; behind him will be Brian Walker, of Christchurch — if Walker, can get the engine of his Escort RS fixed in time for the event after blowing it on the last corner of the Dunlop rally sprint 10 days ago. The rally will start at the Tuam Street carpark at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday and then move to Sheffield for the first special stage on Malvern Hills Road, starting at 8.36 a.m. After this 12 km stage the 100 crews will tour

to Whitecliffs for stage 2 of 9 km over Hartleys and Pig Saddle roads, starting at 9.06 a.m.

Stage 3 is in the Eyrewell Forest, starting at 10.26 a.m. and providing 47km of highspeed action and the rally “circus” then moves to the Ashley Forest for the remainder of the event. Stage 4 starts near the forest headquarters at 1.04 p.m. and drivers face five more special stages before touring back to Christchurch.

The event has a total strength of 380 km, including 210 km of special stages. An

invitation rally will be run in conjunction with the event, over the first five stages, and the favourites will be Trevor Parmenter (Timaru, Datsun 1200 1.8 turbo) and Bill Pottinger (Christchurch, Escort 1600).

Top seeds for the national event are: J. Donald (Auck., Sanyo Escort RS), 1; P. Adams (Auck., ETC Escort RS), 2; T. Crowe (Chch, Muffler Services Escort RS), 3; A. Mitchell (Feilding, Escort RS), 4; T. Teesdale (Tokoroa, Engine Rebuilders Escort RS), 5; A. Hewlett (Kumara, Escort RS2000). 6; S. Murland (Wgtn, GM Chevette H 52300), 7; G. Mclntyre (Paraparaumu, Escort 1600), 8; B. Walker (Chch. Walker Ladders Escort RS), 9; B. Robinson (Wyndham, Chevette 2300). 10.