Emma Gilmour, of Dunedin, battled her way through a severe brake problem and a holed radiator in her Subaru Impreza on Sunday, the final day, to claim 14th place overall, her top finish in a world championship rally.
Along with the overall result, two places better than her previous best on a WRC round, Gilmour was the third Kiwi home, and second among the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) contenders.
Hayden Paddon, of Geraldine, was the first New Zealander to finish, also netting the Super 2000 World Rally Championship category win in his S2000 Skoda Fabia, while second Kiwi, Richard Mason, of Wairarapa, extended his NZRC-winning streak to three consecutive victories.
Gilmour said the third day was a "frustrating conclusion to the event" but she was pleased with her final position.
"The last time Rally NZ was part of the world championship, I managed to finish 17th, and the time before that 16th. This year, I have managed a top-15 WRC finish for the first time."
Duncan McCrostie, of Kaitangata, was only into Friday's third stage when steam and smoke issuing from the engine bay indicated a blown head gasket in his Nissan Bluebird Turbo, which forced him to retire.
Although he collected no points for the opening day, his team made repairs overnight, allowing him to finish the final two days and still remain third in the NZRC historic class.
Sitting on 82 points behind Miles McElwain, of Hamilton (104 points), and Marcus van Klink, of Kaiapoi (126 points), McCrostie still has a chance to move up a position at the final round, in Gisborne on August 25-26.
