Motorsport: Masons chasing hometown win

Richard Mason and co-driver wife Sara are aiming for their fifth Rally of Wairarapa win to close the gap to championship leader Hayden Paddon. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Masterton driver Richard Mason will be shooting for a fifth straight home ground win at this weekend's fourth round of the national rally championship in the Wairarapa.

Mason, whose wife, Sara, is co-driver of their Subaru, is looking to close a 27-point gap to championship leader Haydon Paddon, from Geraldine, with just one round left to the national series after this weekend's.

A late retirement from the last round at Whangarei saw Mason's 22-point lead at the top of the championship replaced by the 27-point deficit.

"We really don't care what the weather has in store for us, because we just love getting out on our local roads and 'turning it on' for all our hometown supporters," Mason said.

"And with what happened at Whangarei (having to retire when holding a commanding lead late on day two) turning it on is now our only option if we are to win the championship this year."

The national championship concludes with the Rally of Nelson on September 19-20.

- NZPA