The amazing scenery of South Canterbury, New Zealand. Photo: Geoff Ridder
Hi Everyone
Our 2023 New Zealand Rally Championship campaign came to an abrupt end at last weekend’s South Canterbury Rally.
The first three stages on the fast-flowing Canterbury roads went well, sitting in fourth place overall with Dunlop’s new pattern tyres giving plenty of grip in the very cold conditions.
Our problems started on the tour to the Fairlie service break with a dashboard warning light and by the time we got to the service park, the car had lost all power with an alternator failure.
Start ceremony - Photo: Geoff Ridder
The team did a fantastic job getting us back into the event, working feverishly to replace the alternator that was located at the back of the engine and very difficult to access.
Unfortunately with the time lost in service a good result was now impossible, but completing the rest of the stages was important as we were hosting and working with a tyre engineer from Dunlop Japan and we needed to continue testing their new tyres.
Through the afternoon our stage times were regularly in the top 4 or 5, that is until Stage 8 Rocky Gully.
Dunlop Japan tyre engineer at the end of SS5
At the mid-point of the 8-kilometre stage there is a well-known river ford - a very steep descent into deep water. Even though we went into the water very very slowly the Toyota C-HR sucked up litres of water through the air intake breaking (hydraulic-ed) the engine. That was our rally, ending in a cloud of steam.
It was a pity to finish our campaign like that, especially as the C-HR is now being shipped back to Japan. Not sure what’s next for us, however we have some plans and will let you know when confirmed.
The Mike Young Motorsport team would like to thank and acknowledge all those who helped us through the season including Cooke Howlison Toyota, Pacific Toyota, Dunlop, Cusco, Opotiki Tyre Service, Seeka, Würth New Zealand, Asia Pacific Sports Media, Northland Toyota, Go Logistics, PF Automotive, McDermid Auto Collective, Robert Monk Transport, and Yoda Rallying.
Finishing in the ford on SS8 - Photo: Geoff Ridder
