Oakden wants clear run to win his class in the Rally of the North

Whangarei rally driver Brendan Oakden is hoping he can leave his previous bad luck in the Rally of the North for dust when he lines up in his Subaru Impreza near Paihia tomorrow.
With only the Rally of the North remaining in the five-event Top Half Series, which includes Taranaki Tarmac, Rally Whangarei, Rally Gisborne and Rally New Zealand, the 28-year-old is leading his Pre-96 4WD class and is third overall in the series. He also collected the Possom Bourne Memorial Trophy at Rally NZ in August and to win his class at tomorrow's rally would cap a successful year.
"My best finish in the series was a second place in my class last year - so hopefully I can go one better this weekend if I can keep it all together," the 28-year-old said.
While he enjoyed racing in the rally close to home, it seemed to be his bogey event, he said.
"I've had a couple of DNFs - I've probably finished three from five ... so I will need a bit of luck and to win my class to get maximum points."
The Marsden Point Refinery laboratory worker will be joined by his younger sister Natasha Oakden, 21, who is back in the co-driver's seat this year. "I have alternated co-drivers over the past few years as Natasha has been away at Waikato University, but she has finished there now and has been my co-driver all year," he said.
Oakden is seeded 10th in the 54-strong car Rally of the North field.
Route planner and competitor Simon Bell said all of the top eight to 10 competitors could have a crack at claiming a podium spot.
Also included in the top 10 seeds is Whangarei's Ben Jagger and co-driver Ben Hawkins, seeded third in their Subaru Impreza, along with Kerikeri driver Kingsley Thompson in his Mitsubishi Evo 10 (co-driver to be confirmed) who will start as the fifth seed with Whangarei pair Stephen Barker and co-driver Richard Ellis in their Mitsubishi Evo 8, seeded sixth.
As well as the impressive local contingent competing, many were travelling from around the North Island to compete in the annual event, Bell said.
Surplus money from last year's event would be put back into this year's event to cover costs. A minimum of 60 competitors was required to cover the huge expense it took to run the rally.
"We are six short of 60 this year but we have that extra surplus from last year to cover our costs.
"We had to cancel the rally in 2008 because we did not have enough competitors - and it was a bit touch and go again this year," he said.
There are eight stages this year. Cars are set to leave Paihia Public Car Park at 7am, before starting the 21.57-kilometre Sublab@Whangarei stage one at the Paihia end of Oromahoe Rd from 7.15am. Tanoa Hotels Stage Eight (22.07km) will leave Marlow at 4.15pm, and finish near Hukerenui.