Rally ace Cox takes on forest challenge

FLAT OUT: Sloan Cox will drive his hillclimb car - which has been transformed back into gravel mode - in this weekend's Ashley Forest Rallysprint. PHOTO/GREG HENDERSON MOTORSPORT PHOTOGRAPHY

Rotorua rally driver Sloan Cox will dust off his hillclimb car for this weekend's Ashley Forest Rallysprint held in Rangiora.

Rather than the Mitsubishi Evo X he drove to second place in this year's New Zealand Rally championship, Cox will pilot the ''hillclimb beast'' in which he secured
third in at the Leadfoot Festival, and first at the New Zealand International Rallycross in Tauranga, this year.

The hillclimb car has been mostly parked up apart from two promotional
events during the rally season due to financial restraints and to focus on the Evo X.

This will be the second time Cox has competed in the prestigious hillclimb.

''The aim last year was to learn the car and the road as the event is so well known and very competitive, so mileage was needed,'' said Cox.

''Unfortunately last year's event was cut short when the driveshaft broke during the top 16 shootout. The aim this year is to get into the top two shootout and challenge for the win.''

Ahead of the Ashley Forest Rallysprint the hillclimb car has been transformed back
into gravel mode and a lot of work has been done to make it more reliable and faster.

Since last year's event the driveline has been made more reliable and stronger
through upgrading the axles and driveshaft and freshly overhauling the gearbox,
centre diff and rear diff to ensure maximum reliability.

''More seat time in the hillclimb car showed it was lacking the low down power that I required, so a brand new Borq Warner EFR turbo, the latest technology in turbos, has been fitted to the car, giving it more power and better driveability.''

The 1.7km rallysprint has been running since 1979 and competed in by many of New
Zealand's great rally drivers. The action starts at 9.30am both days this weekend with the gates opening to spectators at 8am.

Saturday will consist of four qualifying runs per competitor with Sunday seeing the fifth and last qualifying run occurring before the elimination runs follow.

The overall winner of the event will be the person with the quicker time in the
top two shootout.