Masterton rally ace Richard Mason won't say he has the 2012 New Zealand Rally Championship in the bag.
But he does admit he is about as near to completing what would be a record-equalling fourth national title as he could possibly be.
Needing just five points out of the finalround at Gisborne this coming weekend to take an unassailable lead, Mason, by his own admission, would need to have an "absolute shocker" to be overtaken by the only competitor close enough on the points list to do that, Emma Gilmour.
And for Gilmour to leapfrog him at the last hurdle, she would have to win the round - something she has never done - and Mason would have to come away pointless, which will only occur through an early crash or mechanical hassles.
"You'd have to say things are pretty much in our favour but anyone who knows anything about rallying will understand disaster can happen any time, you can never take anything for granted," Mason said yesterday.
"We've still got some work to do, that's the bottom line."
Mason, who will as usual have wife Sara in the co-driver's seat, has little first-hand experience of the Gisborne roads but expects they will be similar to those in the Rally of Wairarapa.
"From what I can make out the surface and camber will be pretty much the same but the corners could be a bit tighter ... I'm pretty comfortable we'll be able to handle it okay."
As to tactics, Mason could be forgiven for taking a more conservative approach than usual considering he just has to finish to take the national title but while he won't be taking any undue risks he is aiming to win the round as well as the overall championship.
"Motorsport is all about going fast and I'd like to think we will still be faster than anyone else," he said.
"If the car is running smoothly we will be having a decent crack at it, we won't be holding back."
