Mason not counting chickens

LOCAL hope Richard Mason is low-key on the eve of Racetech Rally Wairarapa 05, round three of the 2005 Parker ENZED New Zealand Rally Championship as well as a Central Region round.
On paper he's got to be in with a great chance, after coming within seconds of toppling reigning champ Chris West in the Rally of Otago.
He's on his home turf, on roads he's covered twice previously, but that doesn't count for much.
"We hope for a good result," Mason said last week, "but we're up against some very hot competition."
He cites West, in excellent form and driving what the Masterton man describes as "one of the best production cars in the world". West's Subaru Impreza is a no-expense-spared special built for the late Possum Bourne and it has been upgraded to the highest specifications. West must go out as a strong favourite. Co-driver Garry Cowan is another very experienced competitor, with a couple of seasons of the American rally championship under his belt.
West has never done the event before.
"We've been told the roads are smooth, fast and flowing," he said. "I guess we'll find out at Thursday's shakedown and when we do reconnaissance on Friday."
West is expecting a continuation of the battle he had with Mason at Otago in mid-May. "It's Richard's home event. He's won it a few times. He's obviously the guy to beat."
Aucklander Mark Tapper currently leads the national series in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII after being top Kiwi in round one of the series, the international rally. Tapper, 24, has four years experience. He was third in Group N last season and can't be overlooked. He also has the vastly experienced Jeff Judd as mentor as well as co-driver. Judd also races in the Bridgestone Porsche track series and in the Pro 7 series.
Then there's Palmerston North hard-charger Sam Murray, who is the reigning Group A national champion. (That's a forever title, because Group A cars are no longer eligible for the championship).
Murray, 28, exploded onto the rally scene in 2000 when he entered the Hawke's Bay Rally in a $50 Nissan Skyline and finished 5th overall. He is now in yet another Subaru Impreza.
"Any of us are capable of winning," said Mason.
And think again if you're thinking home advantage.
"We have a recce now, so everybody's in the same boat. Maybe it helps that we've done this rally twice, but a rally is too long to remember individual corners. In fact, local knowledge can be a disadvantage because you might think you know what's ahead and get it wrong."
Mason, who has Sara Randall as co-driver, is looking forward to the long stages offered here, two of them over 40km long. That means a lot of work for the body, so Mason has been working out at the gym most nights.
He's also been working out the logistics of the event. It costs around $10,000 an event to run the Impreza. A local round means savings on travel and accommodation for himself, Randall and their volunteer crew of 8 - 10 people. But it's still a major expense.
At rally pace the Subaru gulps a litre of fuel for each kilometre ? and there are 242km of special stages. Touring the 344km between those stages fuel economy gets up to 6km per litre.
There are also two support vehicles and their associated costs. In addition to tyres they will carry as many parts as possible. Mason expects to destroy a turbo during the event, so there's one of those, suspension arms, radiators, a bonnet, wheel bearings (these take a real pounding in rally conditions). As many parts as possible, to cover every contingency.
The crew, who all have specific tasks, have just 20 minutes to refuel and restore the Impreza to peak rally condition at each service stop. At the end of day one they will have an extra 45 minutes to prepare the car for Sunday.
Mason will use up to 20 tyres for the event, at $250 each. The better used ones can be sold on to people competing at lower levels of the sport, but most are destroyed.
And then there's the other costs. The crew spend 200 hours before each event checking every last nut and bolt. Presentation is important, and often the sides of the car have to be repainted and sign-written after a rally.
All that work can be undone by a millisecond of inattention or misjudgment. Rallying can be a hugely rewarding sport, but it can also be a cruel one.