70 vie for honours in Ashley rallysprint

Press, 17 May 1984, Page 26

70 vie for honours in Ashley rallysprint

By

JOHN HAWKINS

An interesting confrontation between circuit racers and rally drivers will take place in the Ashley Forest this week-end. At least 70 drivers will be attempting to win the prestigious 1984 Dunlop Rallysprint. New Zealand’s top rally drivers should face a tough challenge from circuit drivers Reg Cook and Trevor Crowe over the two days of competition. Cook, the 1982 winner, who was narrowly beaten last year after a mechanical failure, will drive his Shellsport Nissan Sunny, rather than the Nissan 240 RS which he normally uses for rallying. Cook holds the course record with the Sunny and must be one of the favourites to win.

Crowe, who is the current O.S.C.A. champion, will drive his familiar Starlet V 8 in an attempt to beat the rally drivers at their own game.

Crowe has had plenty of experience driving on loose surfaces, and the powerful Starlet should prove capable of matching the more conventional rally cars providing it can apply its power to the ground effectively. Crowe’s team has altered

the car’s suspension and fitted rally tyres in an effort to gain more traction, but has been unable to test the car and will have to wait until the week-end to see if the modifications have been successful.

The opposition could hardly be stronger as the field includes most of the top names in New Zealand rallying.

Last year's winner, Neil Allport, will be out to make it two in a row with his conventional Escort RS rally machine, while a former New Zealand rally champion, Tony Teesdale, has come close to winning the event in the past and will be keen to do well with his Nissan 240 RS. The winner of last weekend’s Mainfreight 3ZM rally, Inky Tulloch, is now a proven top-class rally driver as well as a circuit driver and should not be discounted as a possible winner.

Max Irwin (Escort V 8) and the rallycross star Kim Austin (Chevette V 8) are sure to be favourites with the spectators, while the Mazda RX7 Savanna of Roger Goss, who has recently returned from the United States, is sure to attract plenty of interest. Organised by the Rallies and Trials Enthusiasts Club, the Dunlop Rallysprint is regarded as the premier event of its type in the country. First held in 1979 it gained sponsorship in 1981 and quickly became a highlight of the motor-sport calendar, appealing to rally and circuit enthusiasts. Good prize money and ex-

tensive television coverage have resulted in excellent fields in recent years. Competitors will have one practice and two timed runs each on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. The fastest 32 drivers qualify for Sunday’s

competition which starts at 12 mid-day. The course is 60 per cent uphill and 40 per cent down and the top cars are expected to reach speeds of up to 150 km/h on the I.7km course.