Johnson rules on back roads

They were fast but not furious on the back roads over the weekend as Wanganui Car Club's double rally event got through with quick times and no mishaps.

More than 23 drivers brought their Escorts, Starlets, Primeras, WRXs and many more for lap racing up Pukerimu Rd and the Okoia Hill.

While there was some overnight rain leading into Saturday and a downpour on Sunday afternoon, club captain Stu Robertson said they managed to avoid both.

There were no crashes and all the fence posts remain intact.

"The weather even played the game," Robertson said. "It was probably the quickest we have ever got an event through and done. Very quick driving."

Damian Johnson, in his Mitsubishi VR4, was the overall fastest for the weekend.

Drivers took their fastest lap out of six attempts to decide class and overall victors on each day of racing, with overall best for both combined.

On Saturday, Johnson completed Pukerimu Rd with a fastest lap time of 1m 1.69s more than two seconds quicker than the runnerup.

Up Okoia Hill on Sunday, Johnson blitzed through in 37.35 seconds, again more than two seconds faster than the next best.

Johnson comfortably won G class, while the other class winners were Phil McQuoid (C), Matt Gaskin (E), Webster Gough (D), Andrew Thomas (B), and Mike Carrick (F).

Overall results

1. Damian Johnson, 99.04 seconds; 2. Phil McQuoid, 103.73; 3. Matt Gaskin, 104.49; 4. Stu Robertson, 104.83; 5. Lee Spooner, 106.31; 6. Alex Ebbeling, 106.43; 7. Webster Gough, 107.31; 8. Mark McGinnis, 108.23; 9. John Gray, 108.51; 10. Andrew Thomas, 111.84.