CHAMPION RETURNS TO DEFEND TITLE

Reigning New Zealand Rally Champion Dean Sumner is returning to contest his ninth consecutive NZ Rally Championship and first-time title defence.

Rotorua-based Sumner secured the championship win in 2010 with a disciplined campaign that saw him on the podium at each of the five rounds and was the only driver to win more than one round. He claimed victory at the opening event in Otago, led for the entire season and put his stamp on the crown with one round to go with a dominating drive at Nelson. As a true champion, Sumner finished the season by winning the last stage, on the last day of the series.

Returning for his sixth season with Sumner is co-driver Paul Fallon, who also secured the championship title as co-driver. “It’s been a long time coming for me. I contested my first full championship campaign back in 2000. I’m really looking forward to defending the title this season,” says Fallon.

Sumner is staying in the Mitsubishi camp with his championship winning EVO9, although has made a significant change in his tyre choice this year as he switches to the new generation Hankook.

“We tested on Hankooks after the season ended last year and were really impressed,” says Sumner.

“I guess it’s a bit of a risk switching to a new tyre when we had such a good run last year, but we’re always looking to go faster and I really believe Hankook will provide us with what we need. We’ve done a lot of testing over the last few weeks and are pretty confident with the tyres.”

ITM have signed up again as Sumner’s principle sponsor along with his other key sponsors from last season, with Gull and Motul joining the champion as fuel and lubricant suppliers.

“We’re really fortunate to have a strong family of sponsors who have been with us for the last few years and to have Hankook, Gull and Motul join us this year to assist in defending our title is awesome,” he says.

The 2011 New Zealand Rally Championship also has a new sponsor, with long-time rally driver Brian Green stepping in with his property company as principle sponsor. The series will again travel from the bottom of the South Island to the top of the North with Round 1 being held in Otago on 8 – 10 April 2011.