The Valvoline Rally of the North started in Paihia on a brisk morning, and the clear weather and dry roads seemed ideal for the 38 entrants to compete in over 180km of special stages and touring 230km in between stages throughout the day.
However, Saturday's idyllic setting was the calmbefore what turned out to be an eventful rally, which headed west and then into the Far North backcountry.
The field started to dwindle as the lunch break in Kaitaia grew nearer and by the end of the day, 17 cars had retired due to off-road excursions as well as a few mechanical breakdowns.
That may have been what made the victory even sweeter for Auckland driver Dylan Turner and co-pilot Malcolm Read, who came out on top in their Mitsubishi Evolution 8. Turner said it was the first event he had won in eight years.
Justin Glavish and Michelle Brunt finished in second place - impressive considering they were competing in a two-wheel-drive Toyota Starlet with a 1600cc engine. The final two on the podium were Graham Featherston and Heather Wise who were in a Mitsubishi Evolution 3.
It was a rally to forget for No1 seeds and last year's champions Ben Jagger and Ben Hawkins from Whangarei. Their rally came to an abrupt end when their Subaru Impreza Sti caught fire two kilometres from the end of the last stage (Special Stage 8) forcing them to retire from the leading position. No injuries occurred but Jagger's car was extensively damaged.
Ben Haselden, another driver from Whangarei, finished sixth overall, and Kaitaia driver Jay Sharp finished in 10th place overall.
