Several small issues have blunted an attack on Rally Nelson for the Team TransNet Extreme pairing of Glenn Inkster and Glenn Goldring.
Things were looking good prior to the event with many considering Inkster a dark horse, however the combination of a distracting and power-sapping misfire along with handling problems in the very first stage marked the start of a frustrating weekend. With those issues, along with an off road excursion, the best Inkster could manage on the opening stage was ninth.
Still with niggling problems, Inkster hovered around top five on each of the days remaining stages to end the day in sixth. The team were not able to completely rectify the engine problem overnight, which would make for a day of consolidation on day two of the rally.
Seventh fastest on the opening stage of day two left Inkster in contention for a top five finish, however on the days second stage, he went off the road. Although the damage was cosmetic, getting back on the road cost over a minute and all hopes of a strong result.
“It has been a frustrating weekend,” said Inkster. “Although the results are not too bad, we just know we could have gone so much better. At least we got a reasonable haul of points, and all the time the team is learning how to get the best out of the car. We only have one rally left to get the podium finish that we have aimed for all year, so we will make it count.”
Despite a difficult weekend, Team TransNet Extreme have moved to eighth in the New Zealand Rally Championship points and are an outside chance of securing a top five finish in the championship at the final round, Rally Wairarapa, on September 11-12.
– Credit: BB Media