Motor rally: Bronze reward for Tough day at office

Hastings Nathan Tough and his new co-driver, Samantha Gray, of Christchurch, are itching to do the full NZ motor rally series next season. Photo/file

Hastings rally driver Nathan Tough and co-driver Samantha Gray finished third in the category 2 two-wheel-drive class of the Mahindra Goldrush Rally Coromandel last weekend.

Round four of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship was Tough's first NZRC event and the first time he and Gray, of Christchurch, had entered in the class.

Seven stages, totalling 125km, were covered on predominantly gravel with some tarmac sections.

The podium finish wasn't an easy task. The pair experienced multiple mechanical issues throughout the day including overheating and an oil fire but Tough and Gray persevered and got the Honda CRX to the finish line.

Gray said they had a challenging day, to the extent they thought it was all over at the first service.

"We managed to keep the car running and got to the finish. Even with the mechanical problems and the car filling with smoke on stage four, Nathan was putting out some great times and it was a real credit to him to get the car to the finish and on the podium," she said.

Having attending the Motorsport NZ Elite Motorsport and the Rally NZ Co-drivers' academies, Gray felt she was up for the challenge.

"I have been seeing a sport psychologist provided by the elite academy leading up to this rally, which helped me get into the right head space, and helped me cope with the pressures that are involved with competing in a national series," she said.

The Rally NZ academy had helped her with pace notes, regulations and general preparation.

"There is a mega amount of behind-the-scenes preparation that goes into a rally from both the co-driver and the driver, therefore, everything I learnt at the academy helped me make sure that nothing goes wrong on the co-driver's side," she said.

Tough echoed Gray's sentiments.

"Sam was excellent on the notes, keeping a clear head all day. She even continued to read the pace notes while having an off-road excursion so to get on the podium of our first NZRC event was a great result," he said.

Next year Tough is hoping to compete in the entire championship series with the goal of winning the category 2 crown.

The pair are indebted to the service crew; Jason King, Steve Gray and Rebecca Tough as well as their sponsors, Stadium Finance, Stadium Motorsport, Paddon Foundation, Elite Motorsport Academy, Rally NZ Co-drivers Academy, Mag and Tyre, Rose City Cars, Tomoana Warehousing, and GT Oils.