"Right from that first outing at Gisborne, Sara has done an awesome job every time in every aspect of what a driver needs from his co-driver," says Richard of his wife.
"Whether it be pre-event planning, navigation, time keeping and, most obviously, the pace note calling she seems to have an uncanny ability to know exactly the right second to make the next 'call', which is absolutely vital if I am to set the car up to get the best out of it as we power through the stages."
The Masons both claimed championships in 2006 and in the seven years since 2005 have always finished on the NZRC podium, recording three firsts, two seconds and two thirds.
Ironically, they are enjoying one of their best runs of form, having won the latest three rounds of the NZRC. So much so that Richard needs just five points - of a possible 42 on offer - from the final round at Gisborne at the end of August - to become national champion for a record-equalling fourth time.
"As we said before Rally NZ, the BNT STI is now set up just right for my style of driving and is a real joy to drive," Richard said. "Actually, it's probably just as well with what we had to contend with up there [at Rally NZ]."
When the clutch release bearing broke in the early part of Whaanga Coast (stage two) on the Friday morning, the Masons were forced into damage control mode for the next two days, as they had to start each stage by using the ignition key and "bunny hopping" off each start line, something which cost them more than a minute over the 13 stages involved.
"It really was incredibly nerve-racking," said Sara.
"Every stage could have been our last. We had to make sure we didn't spin, as we would have had big problems trying to use reverse gear. And the extra load and strain on the starter motor, gearbox and other key componentry was always on our minds."
The Masons were forced to drive 1100km with no clutch before their brilliant BNT Mason Motorsport Team were able to replace the clutch on Saturday night at the end of leg two - in just 22 minutes.
As Sara posted on her facebook page late on Saturday night: "What an awesome crew we have!! We now have a clutch to be used wisely - thank you Dwight, Eden, Smithy, Spike, Tom, Adrian, Denny. 22mins gearbox out and then back in ... well done.
The Masons were therefore rapt that, while they were losing anything from 5-10 seconds per stage at the starts, they still managed to win 18 of the 22 tests, win all three NZRC days, the NZRC round and thee Group N class by over four minutes.
Richard said he had three goals for Brother Rally New Zealand.
Firstly, he wanted to extend his lead in the championship, secondly he wanted to win his class, and thirdly he wanted to again earn the honour of winning the Woolf-Whittaker trophy awarded to the first New Zealanders home.
The Masons had been first Kiwi twice before (2006 and 2007) but knew it would be a tall order this time with Hayden Paddon in much more sophisticated machinery.
And while Paddon did eventually hold them out, the Masons nearly had him when he made a mistake on the final afternoon.
"So I guess we will look back on this, our fifth WRC Rally NZ together, as a real challenge and, ultimately, one of our better results where two out of three ain't bad," Richard said.
The final round of this year's Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship is Rally Gisborne, on the weekend of August 25 and 26.
