Duo set for China challenge

EXCITING FINISH: Richard and Sara Mason will be up against world-class opposition in a rally not far from Shanghai. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

A RELATIVELY quiet season is set to end on a high for Masterton's five-time national rally champions Richard and Sara Mason.

They have been contracted to drive for the Chinese Wan Yu Rally Team in round six of the FIA Asia Pacific Championship, based mainly in the town of Longyou, not far from Shanghai, over the weekend of October 31.

For Richard Mason, it will certainly be a case of filling big boots. He will be taking the wheel from Finnish rally star Jussi Valimaki, who competed for Wan Yu at Rally Malaysia earlier this year, and Patrick Sandell, their contracted driver for Rally Japan.

Driving the left-hand drive Soueast Motor Team APRC Lancer R4, the Masons will be up against world-class opposition, including newly-crowned APRC champion Pontus Tidemand (Sweden) and past champion Gaurav Gill (India). Also competing in the event will be drivers with world rally championship experience, including Chris Atkinson (Australia), Alister McRae (Australia) and Mark Higgins (United Kingdom).

Lack of a major sponsor meant the Masons contested just the one event in this year's NZRC, which ended with the Rally of Wairarapa 10 days ago. The Wairarapa roads had been a happy hunting ground for them in the past but not so on this occasion with mechanical hassles forcing them to withdraw. But Richard Mason is optimistic that lack of competition won't be a problem on their Chinese trip. He and Sara will arrive there early enough to have several practice runs and they have the benefit of experience, having driven in the Chinese Rally Championship in the 2005 and 2006 seasons for the GITi Rally Team, for which they had 11 starts over varying surfaces.

Also they have first-hand knowledge of the professionalism of the Wan Yu outfit after competing for them at the 2011 APRC Rally in Whangarei, where they finished third.

The Longyou rally will be staged on a mix of gravel and concrete roads and this too is a plus for the Masons, who have achieved excellent results on those surfaces, particularly gravel where they have few if any equals in this country.

A good result for the Masterton duo in their Chinese assignment could open doors for them to compete on the international scene on a more regular basis. But while they acknowledge that possibility, they emphasise the initial focus will be wholly on doing a decent job for Wan Yu.

"We're not thinking too far ahead, it's all about getting this one done and done well," Richard Mason said. "It's an exciting challenge and we're determined to everything we can to make the most of it."