Motorsport: Sloan Cox ticks Ashley Forest win off to-do list

Rotorua driver Sloan Cox flies around a corner on his way to an Ashley Forest Rallysprint win. Photo/Geoff Ridder

Rotorua driver Sloan Cox has always wanted to win the Ashley Forest Rallysprint in North Canterbury.

During the weekend that dream became a reality as he set a winning time of 55.3 seconds to beat three-time defending champion and local driver Matt Summerfield by over a second.

Cox made history in 2016 when he did what many considered impossible, breaking Kim Austin's 17-year-old course record of 56.57 seconds, which he broke three times in one day to set a new record of 55.23.

Unfortunately his brilliant drive came to a premature end when the driveshaft of his Mitsubishi Evo 8 Hillclimb Beast broke off the start line in the top-two run-off.

During this year's event he broke that record again and set a new best course time of 54.96.

He said the drama of last year just made the victory this time around even sweeter.

"It's great to get the win. It's been on my 'to-do' list this year so great to tick that one off.

"This weekend has been amazing for the Cox Motorsport team. I knew from last year that there was still more left in the car and it was exciting to be able to beat my own record again.

"It is also the best feeling to make it through the final run without any issues and secure the overall event win. I'm looking forward to next year's event where we will continue to challenge for the overall win and for a new course record," Cox said.

Sloan Cox lifts the trophy at the Ashley Forest Rallysprint. Photo/Geoff Ridder

World Rally Championship star Hayden Paddon was forced out of the event with engine trouble in his Hyundai despite demonstrating a clear speed advantage. The 30-year-old set the fastest time through Saturday's four qualifying runs and was targeting a sub-54-second time before engine problems in his modified i20 AP4+ car ended his run.

Cox now looks ahead to Rally Waitomo, the fifth race in the New Zealand Rally Championship in which he sits 12th.