New NZ Champion

On 4 Wheels

At left is how we, at Maddix Park, most often see Tauranga former MX rider Ben Thomasen these days  i.e. at the wheel of his Polaris RZR900, sliding, drifting or jumping his way around our tracks.

(A background in top level MX racing and rally driving experience gives him a definite edge for UTV side by side racing, according to Ben).

Since a serious accident at the NZ MX Nationals in 2008, Ben has been very successfully channelling his competitive instincts into a four wheel motorsport career and this weekend, at the wheel of his Subaru WRX (picture below), he became the new NZ Motorsport National Hillclimb champion.

Over thirty drivers took part in the national final north of Westport, competing  timed runs first on the 5.8km sealed Denniston Rd on Saturday and then over the unsealed 2.0 km Burnetts Face Rd the following day.

Thomasen, seen in below in the Subaru, struggled on Saturday finishing third on the seal with Michael Tall winning.  This meant whoever beat the other on Sunday over gravel would win the national title which Thomasen went on to accomplish.

“I’m very relieved to have won,” commented Thomasen.  “Saturday was a struggle, not good at all.  Today was better and we came through with the right result.”

Qualifying rounds had already taken place throughout NZ and points leader Thomasen faced some tough southern competition. 

Not having driven on these roads before Thomasen decribed them as “Awesome”

 

Overcast conditions greeted drivers for the Denniston Rd climb while the next day hot dry and dusty conditions meant officials put water down over the course.

“The cool conditions on Saturday were great as it kept tyre wear down.  The water over the course on Sunday kept the dust right down but made the course quite slippery,” commented Thomasen.

Thomasen plans to defend his title next season, hoping to extract more power from his WRX.  Meanwhile he now concentrates on getting ready for the 2013 Xtreme Rally Challenge in the North Island.Michael Tall from Christchurch led the South Island assault along with Scott Jones (Evo 3) and Dunedin’s Chris Hey (Toyota MR2).

Media: NZ Motor Racing 24 February 2013  http://www.nzmotorracing.co.nz