Moment of truth for Richard Mason

After spending the past five months reeling in and overhauling his rivals, Masterton's Richard Mason is in prime position to claim his first Gold Star as the Parker-ENZED New Zealand Rally championship reaches it's climax in the Houston and Dayman Motors Rally of Nelson this weekend.
The 27-year-old former double junior national champion has powered the Total Oils Tom's Autos Subaru Impreza to the top of the NZRC leaderboard in emphatic style after missing the opening round ? the WRC Propecia Rally New Zealand ? back in April.
By finishing second on countback at Otago to defending champion Chris West ? who is now the only other contender for the title ? and then taking three consecutive round wins, Mason has shown not only withering speed whenever necessary, but also a new-found maturity to judge the pace required to build a lead and then maintain a winning margin.
This is clearly reflected in the nature of his performances in the four NZRC rounds he has contested so far this year:
At OTAGO he took time to adjust back in to what it takes to get the best out of a Group N car ? finishing second in heat one and then winning heat two.
At WAIRARAPA he made the most of his "home" event, convincingly winning heat one, then blasting through the final stage of heat two to run down the defending champion and take maximum points.
At ROTORUA an electrical problem on the opening stage saw him forced to give the rest of the field a 20-second head start, but by the end of the infamous Motu Road ? three stages later ? he was back at the front of the NZRC field to record another heat win. The treacherously muddy roads for the second heat made it "drive to survive" and, on the same type of Dunlop tyres he has used all season ? which were totally unsuited to the conditions ? Mason controlled his pace to finish second for the day, win the NZRC round and record a career-best second overall behind current PWRC leader Toshi Arai.
At HAWKE'S BAY ? it was a charge right from the start to establish a lead that would provide sufficient buffer to control the rally from the front. This was achieved in resounding style by setting fastest time on the first five stages and enabled Mason to ease off over the final two tricky tests to ensure victory ? and the lead in the championship.
"2005 has been a culmination of our three previous years in the NZRC ? learning how to get the best out of each round, the car and especially ourselves. Now the effort of playing catch up for the last five months comes down to just eight pieces of road and 220k at Nelson ? and we can't wait to get out there!"
"I have only been to there once ? last year ? and in spite of our result (8th after losing the lead due to a rear puncture and resultant brake failure) I thoroughly enjoyed the roads. They are very challenging and command respect, especially with all the rocks that can be dislodged and dragged out into the racing line. You have to drive to stay out of trouble ? just look how many crews were like us and had at least one puncture last year," said Mason.
"That will be the key for us this time ? and certainly as far as the NZRC fight is concerned ? because after all we are the ones with points on the board' (a 7-point lead). So even if we are forced out this weekend Chris still has to finish to take the title off us.
"Retirement is always a possibility ? and that's what makes winning such a buzz (and so precious) ? but you have to start every event in a positive frame of mind, and Nelson will be no different for us. After seven top results this year we know we have all the elements necessary to be on the pace ? it's just a case of making sure they all continue to work for us on the day," he said.
"We will therefore aim to run this weekend as we have done all season ? quick but safe - and review our position at the end of each stage."
Although West has considerably more experience of this rally ? he has won there three times when it was part of the Mainland regional series ? Mason knows he will have his own source of the best possible local knowledge sitting alongside him as his co-driver and partner Sara Randall grew up in the area the rally runs through and even learned to drive on those roads.
"Sara knows an awful lot about the rally and the area, as well as how the weather can affect things there, and has already had a major impact on our planning for this event," said Mason
"We really appreciate the amount of support we have received from a wide range of folk, who have come forward with sufficient funds that we will be able to fit new tyres at each service for the first time this year."
The Richard Mason Motorsport Team has spent the time since Hawke's Bay giving the Impreza a thorough going-over and to ensure nothing is left to chance they travelled to Nelson today so they can spend tomorrow carrying out their first test session of the season.
"That's one vital element we learned from our trip to China last month ? you can never get enough time behind the wheel, and as this is such an important weekend for us all, a test session will top off our preparations nicely," said Mason.
Following reconnaissance on Saturday morning and documentation and scrutineering, there will be a ceremonial start at 3.15pm.
The cars then head east towards Blenheim to the top of the Whangamoas to run a single stage on roads used in the 1980 Motogard Rally of New Zealand, that will bring them back to within five minutes of the city centre. A 30-minute service will be held from 4.45pm followed by an overnight parc ferme.
Sunday's action begins at 8am with the rally being based at Forestry HQ at Tapawera for all seven high-speed stages before the rally winner and NZRC champions are crowned from 4.20pm.