There were no signs of the nerves which had been bubbling all week when Kerikeri's Kingsley Thompson and co-driver Malcolm Peden pulled into the Whangarei service centre after completing the first four stages of their debut Rally of New Zealand.
Although Thompson, who was driving for the Czech National team in
the production class, competed in last year's New Zealand Rally Championships, it was his first crack at a World Rally Championship event.
"We were very nervous beforehand, it's such a huge event. It's our first time ever in the Rally of New Zealand and it has been a big step up for us," Thompson said on his arrival to the pits at lunch time yesterday.
Thompson and Peden have made the most of the week-long build up, mixing with the international drivers and soaking up the atmosphere as motorsport fans got revved up for the weekend's rally.
"We did the Harbour Bridge Walk in Auckland with all the drivers and have been at all the media conferences - it's been a full-on week for us, but we're enjoying it."
Once day one was underway, the nerves vanished as the pair navigated the first few stages in the Maungaturoto area in their Mitsubishi Evo 10.
"It's good to be driving on what I guess are my home roads. They are really good, nice cambered roads which worked well for us. We started a bit slow as we were getting used to the new control tyres we put on ... it's our first time running them. By Stage Two we were coming right and we had a good run on the third 34km stage."
The helicopter pilot from Kerikeri said his occupational skills were useful while rally driving.
"There is a crossover - I think it has helped me with my reaction time and processing of information," he said. At the end of special stage eight, Thompson sat in 23rd place overall.
