‘So what station do you want to listen to?’: Brothers Neil (driver) and Peter Dodds about to head out for a stage of the Rally Gisborne on Saturday. Picture by Liam Clayton
‘So what station do you want to listen to?’: Brothers Neil (driver) and Peter Dodds about to head out for a stage of the Rally Gisborne on Saturday. Picture by Liam Clayton
Peter Dodds loved his first taste as a co-driver for older brother Neil at the Rally Gisborne on Saturday. In two weeks, Neil’s partner will hopefully enjoy it the same.
The Dodds brothers teamed up for Rally Gisborne, round 4 of the New Zealand Rally Championship, and completed a “prettytrouble-free” event.
Gisborne rescue helicopter pilot Neil and Queenstown-based Peter were seeded 48th in the 48-car field. By the end of six stages — Parikanapa (two stages), Ruakaka, Wharekopae, Pehiri (2) totalling over 150km — they were 26th out of the 32 cars that completed the rally.
The Dodds boys, in Neil’s Toyota Corolla GT, were also third in the open two-wheel drive class.
A “bloody cold” day greeted the field early Saturday. Neil said there were some parts of the road that did not thaw out during the day. Fortunately he did and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.
“It was a great day, bloody magic.”
Neil will be back in action at the Tauranga Clubmans Rally on July 16-17.
