Summerfield’s historic hat trick

Rangiora’s Matt Summerfield became the first driver to secure three-consecutive victories in the Ashley Forrest Rally Sprint at the weekend.

Summerfield was in the Team Ralliart Mitsubishi Mirage and while he was posting quick times, he was had to rely on his own luck and the misfortune of others to clinch the historic hat trick.

Sloan Cox put in an impressive drive all weekend breaking Kim Austin’s 17-year old course record of 56.57 seconds in 1999 with a new mark of 55.23s over the 1.7km course.

But as he was in sight of the title against the defending champion, his car gave in to gift Summerfield his hat-trick.

‘‘I knew it was going to be a tough battle with Sloan Cox in his incredibly quick hill climb car, but with the restrictor being stripped from the Mirage I knew I would have a chance,’’ Summerfield said.

‘‘The pressure was on in the final two shoot out between Sloan and I.

‘‘My final run wasn’t my best ... but it shows it’s never over until the fat lady sings.

‘‘Hard luck to Sloan for this mechanical failure, however I’m so stoked to be the first ever three-time Ashley Forest Rally Sprint winner.’’

Other driver have won three titles, including the legendary Possum Bourne, but Summerfield is the first to do it in three consecutive years.

On Saturday Summerfield recorded his first ever sub-minute lap and proceeded to remain under a minute for the rest of the weekend, with a best of 56.66 in the semi-final on Sunday

However it was Cox and his Hillclimb Special Evo 8 that set the course alight with his blistering record in the first knockout round clocking 56.19, a new record, before breaking his own record in the semifinals.

Unfortunately after setting a new record his car couldn’t keep up the pace and suffered mechanical issues in the final to cross the line in almost the slowest time of the weekend – 1:47.08.

As well as the win Summerfield managed to go under a minute in his 4WD Subarau Legacy,and finished fifth overall and the best of the 4WD vehicles.

In total 45 drivers contested the event. Neil Webb in a Mitsubishi Mirage was third with 58.49, just 0.03 ahead of Michael Tall in fourth.