Former New Zealand rally champion Richard Mason set the equal-fastest Group N (production car) time in Stage 1 of Rally NZ at Pirongia this morning.
Mason runs 13th overall and best Kiwi. The BNT Subaru Impreza WRX STi driver is just under eight seconds ahead of his nearest NZ championship rival Chris West (Andrew Simms Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9).
Mason’s time was equal to that set by Production World Championship (PWRC) regular Fumio Nutahara (Lancer Evo 9) and was quicker than multiple Group N world champion Toshi Arai’s (WRX STi). West also outpaced Arai.
Stewart Taylor (Evo 9) is the third-fastest Kiwi. NZ series leader Hayden Paddon (Mitsubishi) is off the pace after being laid low by flu earlier in the week.
