2WD title on a knife edge going into finale

Just two points separate Ben Harding and Dave Strong as the pair battle it out to be crowned 2WD champion of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship.

What started out as a wide-open battle between at least half a dozen drivers at the start of the season has come down to two and a head-to-head winner-takes-all battle at this weekend’s Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty.

Harding (Mazda RX7) holds the narrowest of margins over Strong (Honda Jazz) going into the finale.

While both drivers need only to finish to secure their individual class titles – Harding in the Classics class and Strong in the Open 2WD class, both will have their focus on doing the double.

“Yes, the 2WD title is in the crosshairs, we’ve gone this far we might as well try and finish it off as best we can,” Harding said.

“We will do the best we can – if we lose it all at least, we had a go.

“If we do the double that exceeds what we set out to achieve but is a testament to the reliability of the Mazda and the great team behind us.”

While Harding is prepared to risk it all to win both titles, Strong will take a more circumspect approach.

“I need to finish to win my class so that’s more important,” Strong said.

“I think it would be possible to beat the RX7 with the progress we have made with my car and driving this year, but it would take some risk to do it.

“I don’t want to take risks with the Silver Fern Rally so close.

“It’s nice to know when the car is right, I can still be competitive.”