Friday morning Targa NZ stages were centered North East of Feilding along the base of the Ruahine Range. The first two stages started under torrential conditions, however as the day progressed the track dried out. Rory Callaway/Samantha Gray won the first stage before Van Klink/Richards won the next two stages.
The fourth stage of the morning was cancelled as the organizers were unable to confirm the safety of the course. In order to remain on time for the afternoon the cars toured through.
Following the lunch stop the cars then travelled to the longest stage of the event at a whopping 45.58kms long. This stage features Cop corner which is well know from when a Police car crashed off the corner. Callaway won this stage by 13.5 seconds to bring the gap to Van Klink down to 1min 1sec going into the final day. Gill/Little in the VW Polo fell back from third to fifth place. David Rodgers and his co-driver Shane Reynolds in the Mitsubishi Evo X RS had a good day to leapfrog Mike Tubbs/Matt Bailey for third place overall.
The Time Trial is still being led by Craig Inger and Henry Cassin in the MX5. They sit on 78 points, while further down is the MGB of Dallis Yates and Alise Inger who are on 99 points. In the Classic 2WD class the BMW 325 of Bruce Fairley/Glen Warner have a comfortable margin of 7 minutes 16 seconds over second placed Steven & Sean Blackley in the Ford Escort.
Friday has seen the start of the two day Regional entrants which will participate in the last two days of the main competition.
Saturday will see the cars compete over five special stages on their way to Masterton for the Ceremonial Finish at Copthorne Solway Park
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