Rally winner thrilled
PA Auckland Franz Wittman, winner of the New Zealand international rally, will be heading back to Austria to resume his sawmilling job with no immediate prospect of more world championship ventures. Surprised and thrilled by his win in the AWAClarion Rally, which was confirmed when the remaining 16 cars toured back to Auckland yesterday, the 37-year-old Wittman will be back at work in Ramso, near Vienna, next week. “I came here hoping to be third, perhaps, and win an A grading,” he said. “There was no rallying in Austria for three months. Now I have no more money for rallies.” Wittman said that a return to New Zealand next
year would depend on money. “It is very expensive to bring the cars and mechanics all this way,” he said. His return home may not be low key, as his efforts have been featured on Austrian television. As a fellow competitor, Peter Diekmann, quipped: “He used to be the Earl of Ramso; now he is the King.” New Zealand’s Possum Bourne, third in the event behind Wittman and Kenneth Eriksson, of Sweden, is waiting to hear if Subaru has confirmed further overseas works drives for him. In the meantime, he will return to his roots — the car is entered in this week-end’s Pukekohe rally, starting a few kilometres from his home.
As a result of the New Zealand rally, Eriksson moves to fifth place in the world drivers’ championship with 36 points. Final placings: F. Wittman (Austria) / J. Pattermann (Austria) Lancia Delta HF 4WD, 6hr 56min 00s, 1; K. Eriksson (Sweden)/P. Diekmann (West Germany) Volkswagen Golf GTi, 6:56.475, 2; P. Bourne/M. Eggleton (Pukekohe) Subaru RX Turbo, 7:04.255, 3; A. Teesdale/G. Horne (Auckland) Mazda 323 4WD, 7:18.315, 4; D. Officer/K. Officer (Australia) Mitsubishi Starion Turbo, 7:35.125, 5; K. Adarnson/G. Adamson (Hamilton) Toyota Corolla, 7:40.175, 6; S. Webber/J. Kennard (Christchurch) Toyota Starlet, 8:00.50s, 7; S. Davies/S. Curry (Christchurch) Subaru RX Turbo, 8:05.415, 8; K. Hazu/H. Ichino (Japan) Isuzu Gemini JT 150, 8:09.585, 9; G. Goile/ T. Morrison (Christchurch) Toyota Starlet, 8:12.415, 10; D.
Strong/D. Crossley (Auckland) Daihatsu Charade, 8:15.215, 11; G. Sibley/J. Judd (Christchurch) Toyota Starlet, 8:16.205, 12; L. Stringer/C. Slee (Auckland) Toyota Corolla, 8:17.435, 13; I. Schuler (Kaponga)/P. McNeil (Opunake) Isuzu Gemini ZZT, 8:19.425, 14; A. Halsall/C. Partington (Hamilton) Mitsubishi Lancer EX, 8:22.255, 15; G. Bell (Napier)/B. Kent (Havelock North) Toyota Starlet, 9:14.585, 16. World drivers’ championship points (after round nine): J. Kankkunen 72, 1; M. Alen 60, 2; M. Biason 54, 3; J. Tagnotti 37, 4; K. Eriksson 56, 5; H. Mikkola 32, 6; W. Rohrl 27, 7; F. Chatriot 21, 8; F. Wittman, T. Salonen, B. Beguin 20, equal 9; E. Weber 19, 12; I. Carisson 18, 13; S. Blomqvist 16, 14; M. Ericsson, Y. Loubet, J. Recalde 15, equal 15; P. Erklund 14, 18; P. Bourne (N.Z.) 12, 19; A. Teesdale (N.Z.), R. Stohl, R. Millen (N.Z.) 10, equal 20.
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Press, 15 July 1987, Page 76
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484Rally winner thrilled Press, 15 July 1987, Page 76
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