Advantage to Palmer heading to penultimate North Island Rally Series round at Bay Rally

The penultimate round of the North Island Rally Series (NIRS) takes place this Saturday, 5 October 2024, based on the roads around Whakatane. The Battery Town Bay Rally will see 57 entries tackle 12 Special Stages, the event also doubling as the penultimate round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship.

The advantage lies with Quentin Palmer who currently leads the NIRS with a 15-point lead over 2023 champion Phil Campbell with Todd Bawden a further six-points behind in third. Palmer, and co-driver Noel Moloney (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5), have consistently scored points in the first three rounds and are able to drop one round from their overall tally. Meanwhile, their rivals, Campbell, Bawden and Mackenzie, have all missed one round earlier in the season so must score points in the final two.

With the cancellation of the fourth event, the Hoddle Rd Rallysprint, Otorohanga, the series has now been reduced to five rounds.

Phil Campbell (Ford Fiesta AP4) won the opening two rounds and sat out the third which was won by Todd Bawden (Ford Fiesta R5 MkII). Palmer is yet to win a round but has finished second in the last two events coupled with fourth at the opening Jacks Ridge Rallysprint back in May.

Tony Young (Datsun 1200 SSS) leads Class A (2WD 0-1300cc) while Class B (2WD 1301-1600cc) sees Rodney James (Toyota MR2) and Phillip Broadbent (Toyota Starlet) tied on 20-points each, Class C (2WD 1601-2000cc) also a tie between John Whooley (Honda Civic) and Kaden Wood (Nissan Skyline), who leads the Rookie Driver standings. Charlie Evans (Honda Civic) has a 20-point lead over Daniel Haines (Ford Escort Mk2) in Class D (2WD 2001 and over) with David Ayling (Ford Escort RS1800) leading Class E (2WD Classic).

Phil Campbell is five-points ahead of Bawden in Class F (4WD 1601-2000cc), Palmer has a 30-point lead over Dave Strong (Ford Fiesta S2000) in Class G (4WD 2001cc and over), Jamie Rodgers leads Class H (Subaru H6) and Shaun Wade (Mitsubishi Mirage) has a 20-point lead in Class 4WD Pre 1996.

Drivers face a total distance of 428km with 150km of Special Stages run on public roads in the Whakatane, Rotorua, and Western Bay areas of the Bay of Plenty, with Service Parks at Matata Rugby Club grounds and Rangiuru. The first Car departs at 0630 hours from Whango Place, the Lakes, Tauranga finishing at the Classic Flyers, Aerodrome Rd, Mt Maunganui at approximately 1700 hours.