Election Day Favours

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 15, 8 September 1987, Page 8 (Supplement)

Election Day Favours

Rally driver Brian Stokes has a general election to thank for keeping alive his chances of a strong finish in the national rally championship. The Government's scheduling of the general election for August 15 has forced the organisers of the Hella Lights Rally in Auckland to postpone the event until September 26, when they will be able to close public roads for the speeding rally cars. The postponement has provided Stokes, National

Rally Champion in 1985, with the time he needs to have his DHL-Motorcraft Ford Sierra XR4x4 back on the rally roads without missing a round of the national championship. The need for time follows the international rally in early July when Stokes, who was running as high as fourth place on the second day, slid wide on a greasy bend and slammed heavily into a roadside bank. It initially appeared there would be insufficient time available for the busy Can-

terbury dairy farmer and his hard-working crew to have their bright red car fully repaired and tested in time for a round of the national rally championship in midAugust. However, the postponement of the Hella Lights Rally on election day has meant good news to the DHL-Motorcraft team. In the Southland rally, Stokes drove a fine event in his Ford Sierra to win and collect 30 valuable national championship points. Double championship points are available for both the Marl-

borough and Auckland rallies. "It had looked as though there wouldn't be enough time to complete all our work and get to Auckland in time for a mid-August rally," Stokes said. "But election day has made them change the date and that means we may not have to miss any rallies. We'll be looking for a good win in the Marlborough rally and then hopefully we'll head north for the last major rally of the year."