Photos by TJW Photos
After a slow start to the season for the defending 3NZ’s, Ash Tonkin & Dyon Ross would return to the top step and put their season back on track in the Taranaki!
This time in a new spot at Rawhitiroa in South Taranaki, the Mt Egmont 4WD Club hosted the fourth round of the season in what would be one of the quickest rounds on the calendar (for all the right reasons this time!).
Continuing the string of dry rounds, the day would be no different providing plenty of traction as well as dust throughout the morning & afternoon. The stages would evolve with 40+ trucks each making their attempt – lumpy hills would soon become smooth highways, only to form deep ruts just as quick for the unlucky last.
Event Results
TOP FIVE
Shaun Nicholson & Beau Taylor would lead the way in the morning with 20 points + speed. Russell Hall & Glen Hall would be two points behind, with Alastair Bevege & Grant MacDonald just a further point behind in third courtesy of their times on the morning speed section. Ash Tonkin & Dyon Ross were on 40 points + speed in fourth, with Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford on 60 points + speed in fifth. Current leaders Chris Gifford & Sam Thomsen would make some costly mistakes early in the day to rule themselves out of contention.
Tonkin & Ross survived a broken axle in the afternoon to come through with the win, just four points ahead of Dave McKie & Reece McKie. Nicholson & Taylor would ultimately finish third 16 points further back.
With a variety of stages requiring little recovery, the day flowed quick and smoothly for the morning and afternoon. With the day wrapped up after 3pm.
The win is Tonkin & Ross’s first since Round 1 last season, and a welcome result moving them up to 7th overall in the standings from 16th!
Dave & Reece McKie would take out the afternoon on their way to second place, their third podium in The Sniper. The McKie’s consistency at the sharp end this season see them 3rd overall in the standings.
Shaun Nicholson & Beau Taylor would score their best result to date with third in Steve, only narrowly missing out on the win. Another team on good form, they sit 5th overall in the standings,
Brent Ward & Mickey Ward would enjoy a drama free day to score 4th overall, their equal best placing in the Fooken Buggy.
Angus Hamilton & Daniel Howat were back in action to take 5th overall on the day in The Compensator.
C CLASS
First in C Class was Angus Hamiton & Daniel Howat with their Nitro Custom, bouncing back after a DNF at the previous round. The duo from the Thames Valley would keep it consistent with a near identical score morning & afternoon to finish 5th overall on the day. They now sit 6th overall in the standings, in their debut season no less.
Defending champs Shayne Towers & Tony Hadland were second and 11th overall on the day. Towers & Hadland’s improved form sees them in the mix for the Top 3 in C Class.
Nathan Fogden & Mike Gibbons would take third having led the morning in C Class.
With Towers & Hadland and Fogden & Gibbons finishing behind Hamilton on the day, it gives Hamilton & Howat a healthy five-point buffer to the chasing pack in C Class. Rhys O’Brien & Clarrie Vazey share the second spot with John Hawken & Haare O’Brien, with Towers & Hadland only a point behind.
SUPER PRODUCTION
Paul Taylor & Danielle Taylor once again enjoyed a trouble-free day with their F Class Toyota Landcruiser to take out the win.
BEST OF THE REST
Rounding out the rest of the Top 10…
Russell Hall & Glen Hall would ultimately take 6th overall on the day. More importantly though, 2nd overall for Central Zone as they lead the CZ standings by five points! Grasshopper’s no stranger to the sharp end in the Zone Series, having taken out Northern Zone with Dean Foster & Michael Crane in 2014.
Chris Tomalin & Richard Verner would finish 7th for their second Top 10 appearance of the season, putting them 8th outright in the standings.
Defending champs Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford would take 8th place, surviving some costly points in the afternoon. That said, they sit 2nd overall in the standings.
Former 1NZ’s Scott Biggs & Phil Walton finished 9th place, only sitting a point behind the McKie’s in the standings in 4th place.
Winners of the previous Taranaki trial, Ryan Bold & Brendan Austin would score their first Top 10 of the season in 10th. They sit behind the Hall brothers in 2nd overall for Central Zone with one CZ round remaining.
BIGGS FAMILY CUP
The Biggs Family Cup, awarded to the club with the best score from their three highest class finishers, went to defending champs Counties 4 Wheelers, thanks to McKie & McKie and Towers & Hadland with their second in class finishes, with Biggs & Crawford bringing it home. South Waikato stay in the mix with Nicholson & Taylor taking third in D Class and the D’Aths and Templeton & de Crom bringing in points with C Class. Wairarapa 4×4 squeeze themselves into the Top 3 for the first time thanks to a strong showing from the Ward’s, the Hall brothers and Derek & Matthew Ramsay’s strong result in D Class.
Counties continue to lead the way in the standings on 398 points, followed by South Waikato on 393, EBTDC on 393, with Wairarapa, Mt Egmont & BOP all tied on 383!
The next round takes place north of Huntly at Waiterimu, with the Counties 4 Wheelers hosting the Nitro Customs National 4×4 Trial on March 21st!
