Queenstown rally driver Mike Sheehan is hoping to back up his class win from last month’s Rally of Otago when he lines up for his debut in the International Rally of Whangarei this weekend.
After joining the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) last year, Sheehan decided to help Mt Maunganui driver David Holder’s Junior World Rally Championship campaign by lending him his Ford Fiesta R2 for the 2018 Whangarei event — and in doing so relegating himself to spectator status.
This year, fresh off his 2WD class victory for front-wheel drive, up to 2L cars, in one of three identical Fiestas competing in this category, Sheehan is excited to take on the roads he grew up watching world championship stars compete on.
‘‘After going up to spectate last year, I’m really itching to get to Whangarei and get rallying on the roads up there, they look awesome,’’ Sheehan said.
Joined by experienced co-driver Glenn Goldring, Sheehan knows that with an almost perfect score in the opening round, securing another solid haul of points at the only other two-day round is crucial for his pursuit of the NZRC 2WD title.
Dunedin’s Emma Gilmour, who is also competing in Whangarei in her recently-rebuilt Suzuki Swift AP4, is putting the mechanical woes that ruined her chances at the Otago Rally behind her and is focused on achieving a strong result.
- by Catherine Pattison
Photo: Geoff Ridder
