After four years of trying and three second placings, New Zealand driver Rod Millen took the final step to the top of the podium on the Race to the Sky hillclimb near Wanaka yesterday.
In the winner-takes-all final, the former Asia-Pacific, North American and New Zealand rally champion powered his Toyota
racing pick-up truck to the top of the twisting 14.8km gravel course in 8min 43s.
Defending champion Possum Bourne had conquered the Waiorau Snow Farm access road even more quickly in qualifying but faltered in the final, tearing a tyre off its rim.
"Looking back on the last four events, I'm really thrilled the way it has worked out," Millen said. When you have had to work this hard over the years ... it means a lot more."
With Bourne out, Australian debutant Steve Riley raced to second place in his purpose-built Suzuki-powered four-wheel-drive kart, 24s behind Millen.
Motorcycle honours were claimed for the fourth time in five years by Kawasaki-mounted Invercargill rider Craig Hyde.
Two-wheel-drive car honours fell to Christchurch driver Brent Buist, who stunned his fellow competitors by smashing the 10-minute barrier in a 25-year-old Ford Escort BDA.
- NZPA
