Mason storming home

ON FIRE: Richard and Sara Mason display the spoils of victory from their success at the Possum Bourne Memorial rally.

Richard Mason's victory in the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally over the weekend was notable on two fronts.

Firstly it meant the Masterton ace has now won more New Zealand Rally Championship events outright than any other driver, his 23 edging him one ahead of the legendary Neil Allport.

And, secondly, it took Mason and his co-driver wife Sara to within five points of the lead in the 2013 NZRC with just the one round, the Rally of Wairarapa, on October 5 to come.

Leading on 100pts is gun Geraldine driver Hayden Paddon with Mason on 95pts and so the national title will be up for grabs on a local circuit which invariably brings out the best in the Masterton duo.

"Yes, it's exciting, not just for us but for all of those who put so much time into organising the rally here," Mason said yesterday as he displayed the spoils of victory in the Possum Bourne to pupils at St Patrick's School. "It's like a grand final showdown now, Hayden will be going flat out and so will we."

The fact the Masons are still in with a chance of winning what would be their third successive NZRC title speaks volumes for their ability.

Lady Luck has not been kind to them through most of this year's championship with a host of issues like punctures, gearbox failures and other mechanical hassles confronting them in round after round.

And she didn't exactly smile on them in the Possum Bourne either, problems ranging from a major misfire in the engine, to no power steering at one stage and then the need for a gearbox change after losing third gear.

"We had our issues but, fortunately, we were able to keep going and get to the finish in one piece," Mason said. "Rallying is like that. You can have some trouble, overcome it and still come away with a result."

Making the end outcome even more pleasing for Mason was that it came on the 10th anniversary of an event named in memory of a rallying icon.

"Possum? He'd be jumping up and down right now if he were in our shoes - it is a great honour to win this event and in the same brand of car he was so passionate about," Mason said.

Covering roads through Waikato's Maramarua forest, the Hampton Downs and Pukekohe Park race circuits, and a section of sealed road east of Auckland's Papakura, the Possum Bourne featured some very testing terrain but the Masons were equal to the task, winning six of the stages and having a winning margin of 2mins 7secs over Ben Hunt at the finish.

Paddon was fourth.