MOTORSPORT - Northlanders win Clubman's rally two years running

For the second successive year the Rally of Whangarei Clubman's event has been won by a Northland driver.
Brendan Oakden and co-driver Tasha Oakden shook off their mechanical gremlins of last year and became the second local team, in as many years, to take out the Clubman's event after Andrew Phillips won the title last year.
Suffering through day one with only 50 per cent turbo boost, which was later discovered to be a faulty electrical component, Oakden had a comfortable second day, where he pulled over a three minute gap ahead of second-placed driver Dave Strong for victory.
"We struggled on day one with a lack of power going up hills and we drove the wheels off the car to make up for it. With Glen (Smith) out of the rally on Sunday we just drove to consolidate our lead and make sure we finished the rally," said Oakden.
Oakden assumed the lead from Glen Smith on Saturday afternoon when Smith retired with engine damage halfway through stage six.
Oakden was also the first Whangarei driver home finishing in an impressive 16th overall amongst the Asia Pacific and New Zealand Rally Championship contenders in a 1993 Subaru WRX.
The competition which is held as part of the NAC Hella International Rally of Whangarei is for all those rally drivers not competing in the Asia Pacific or New Zealand Rally Championships, and is an opportunity for those drivers to gauge themselves against a large field at the top of their game.
New Zealand Rally Championship contender Ben Jagger in his Ford Fiesta had a very strong drive on both day one and two, claiming third place in the two-wheel drive competition. His result has also strengthened his standings in the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy against Patrick Malley and Chris Lange which he is currently leading.
"We had a really good rally and enjoyed it a lot. It was great to be involved with the press conferences involved with the international rally which I have never experienced before.
"We are looking pretty good for the Fiesta trophy and the chance to compete overseas as long as we can stay in front of Patrick (Malley) over the next three rounds," he said.
Kirsty Nelson's bad luck at her home rally continued when on stage two she lost control of the Subaru WRX, putting her out of contention in the rally for the third year in a row.
Last year Nelson's car burst into flames on day two due to a power steering leak. The previous year her gearbox failed in the team's older Mitsubishi Evo.
After some incredible overnight repairs, Nelson was able to rejoin the rally on Sunday, and with a sixth place in leg two, was able to score some much needed championship points. She now sits in 12th place after three of six rounds just ahead of Jagger in 13th.