Seeing Scottish driving phenomenon Colin McRae rounding a corner at a New Zealand rally in 1993 had a profound effect on a then 12-year-old Mike Sheehan.
‘‘I can still remember him coming around the right-hander. What he did in those three or four seconds that I watched him, inspired me to do what I do in life,’’ he said.
It wasn’t until 23 years later that Queenstown-based Sheehan could make his long-cherished rallying dream a more permanent reality. His first foray into competing on gravel had ended abruptly after he wrote his car off aged 18.
The owner of Truck Moves, Sheehan (39) was watching the 2016 Otago Rally when he told his wife Kathryn that he ‘‘needed to be here doing this event next year’’.
Duly purchasing a Mitsubishi Mirage, he began competing and won his class at Otago Rally on debut in 2017. He went on to win the Mainland Rally Series 2WD 1300-1600cc category that season and repeated the feat last year.
‘‘That was just the start. It lit my fire hugely,’’ Sheehan said.
Upgrading to a front-wheel drive Ford Fiesta R2 two years ago and partnering with experienced Auckland co-driver Glenn Goldring, Sheehan is this year contesting his first full six-round New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC).
Heading into today’s third round in Canterbury, he holds a solid lead in the front-wheel drive, up to 2L class.
Sheehan said it’s a family affair with his wife and two boys heading along to most of the rallies. He’s also enjoying the rallying camaraderie and has made ‘‘friends for life’’ over his three years of competing.
‘‘I’m loving the car and loving the rallying.’’
●Dunedin’s Emma Gilmour has elected to sit out this round after a mechanically mired start to the season.
‘‘The championship chase is non-existent for us this year now, which is hugely disappointing after all the effort and money spent in the off-season,’’ she said.
Gilmour plans to get things ‘‘100% sorted’’ with her recently refurbished Suzuki Swift AP4 and contest the NZRC’s final three events.
- by Catherine Pattison
Photos: Geoff Ridder
