West leading Rally of Whangarei

Chris West. Photo / Lance Hastie.

Timaru's Chris West in a Mitsubishi was leading Dunedin's Emma Gilmour in a Subaru by 9.3 seconds after the morning's four stages of the Rally of Whangarei today.

Mitsubishi driver Kingsley Thompson was in third with Australian Chris Atkinson the first of the international drivers in fourth overall, just 16.8 seconds off the leader.

Defending New Zealand rally champion Richard Mason withdrew from today's racing after the rear differential in his Subaru failed but he plans to re-start the event tomorrow.

The afternoon's stages take competitors south of Whangarei toward Maungaturoto in a repeat of the morning's stages.