Christchurch driver Chris West has taken the overall round win in the 15-stage International Rally of Whangarei, narrowly defeating new series leader Hayden Paddon, of Geraldine, in the two-day event.
West finished 17.5sec ahead of Paddon, which elevated him to second in the New Zealand Rally Championship, 19 points ahead of Masterton's Richard Mason who crashed out of contention early on Saturday.
The damage to his Subaru meant he was unable to rejoin yesterday.
Paddon still leads the championship by 23 points.
Although pushing for a win, Paddon was happy to have more seat time in his left-hand-drive Mitsubishi Evo 9 and felt he had stepped up a level "driving a lot harder and faster".
He also clean-swept the inaugural Pirelli Star Driver award points table, earning about $10,000 toward contesting the Malaysian rally in October.
Consistency from Taranaki's Brad Ayling (Subaru), who hit form yesterday, earned him a placing in the Pirelli-backed scheme.
A puncture on the final stage cost former Dunedin driver Emma Gilmour a solid top-10 result, but she still finished pleased with her performance.
The Vantage Subaru driver finished eight overall and sixth in the NZRC in Saturday's opening heat of the two-day event. She was eyeing a similar result in yesterday's second heat until the puncture cost her more than 3min 30sec, dropping her to 11th in the national field and 18th overall for the day.
"It wasn't the greatest way to end the rally, but I am pleased to reach the finish of an event in which the positives far outweighed the negatives for the team," Gilmour said.
Overnight third place-getter Brett Martin (Mitsubishi Lancer) was overhauled yesterday by Rotorua's Dean Sumner (Mitsubishi Lancer).
Mixed in with the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship field, West's outright victory has again kept the international drivers at arm's length of the title.
Australian Cody Crocker came closest at third overall.
"It's fantastic; it's a good result for the whole Simms rally team, credit and payback for all the hard work," West said.
