Power boost gives Stokes edge over rally rivals

Press, 17 June 1988, Page 40

Power boost gives Stokes edge over rally rivals

John Hawkins

on

Rallying

When Brian Stokes won the New Zealand rally championship in 1985 there were those in the north willing to decry the efforts of the Waikuku dairy farmer, claiming his victory was the result of consistency and weak South Island competition rather than outright speed. Now, after a year’s development on his DHL Sierra 4x4, Stokes is out to prove what South Island enthusiasts already know — that speed has just as much a part as consistency in his driving armoury. With wins . in the Dunedin and Southland rounds of the Dunlop national rally championship, and a top pointsscoring second-place finish in the Canterbury Maihfreight Rally, Stokes has built himself a handy lead in this season’s championship points ladder.

While the North Islanders have a further regional round of the championship in which to add to their points scores at Taupo on August 21, Stokes faces a long wait until the final round of the series, another premier round, at Auckland on September 3.

Last season there were a few people within the sport who were prepared to write off the Sierra 4x4 as something of a lemon. After all, the factory Ford team had discarded the model in favour of the rear-wheel-driven Cosworth model, and Stokes had had his share of teething problems with the new car.

About 12 months ago I suggested to Stokes, per-

haps a little insensitively, that the car was less than competitive. I received a somewhat terse reply. So, what changes have been made to turn the car into the outright rally winner that it is now, and did Stokes at any stage feel that he had made a mistake in opting for the Sierra?

“I always knew that the car was potentially good. The main thing was that last season we didn’t have enough power,” said Stokes.

“Four main things have made it more competitive. We did a lot of work on the engine. It has a new cam, and we did a lot of head work raising the compression. We also fitted a close-ratio gearbox, changed to 15in wheels, and we have a far better selection of tyres.”

The car has also been lightened by up to 50kg. With the Ford team opting for Cosworth Sierras, Stokes’ 4x4 model must be regarded as one of the fastest of this model currently competing in the

world. Stokes has access to Ford’s specifications through one of his sponsors, Motorcraft, but his team has chosen its own route in some areas, especially suspension, where Stokes considers the factory specifications as far too rigid for New Zealand conditions.

The principal rival of the Sierra in New Zealand is the Mazda 323 4W.D., driven by the likes of Neil Allport, Ray Wilson and Tony Teesdale. How does Stokes feel the two vehicles measure up as rally cars?

“The Mazda is a smaller and lighter car and perhaps considering it is shorter it is easier to drive when dashing between the trees. But they seem to have turbo lag, where we have none, and there isn’t much difference in out-and-out speed. Our car really comes into its own on longer events.”

With such impressive results in the South Island rallies so far, Stokes now looks forward to the Rothmans Rally of New Zealand, to start in Auckland on July 9, and of course the final round of the national series.

The Rothmans rally will provide Stokes with his best-ever crack at international stardom.

“With a good selection of tyres and support from DHL, my sponsor for five years, and back-up from Motorcraft and Shell, there is no reason why we shouldn’t be right there at the end of four days.” The points situation in the Dunlop national rally championship series, with one North Island regional round arid the doublepoints premier final still to run, is: Stokes, 120; Wilson, 78; Allport, 76; Robert Hart, 75; Simon Davies, 74; and Dean Bond, 66.