AFTER an epic battle among the leaders, Paul Mountford emerged from the pack to take out round two of the Coffs Coast Bush Khanacross Series.
Mountford was consistently quick and managed to just stay ahead of his rivals, despite pressure from multiple challengers.
He edged out Kai Hancock, whose tidy runs and quick times kept the pressure on Mountford and left him only just short of first place.
Troy Bailey, in his Audi A3, set a cracking pace, though the heavy dust contributed to a minor error. He received a penalty that was enough to knock him from first to fourth, despite one of the quickest laps on run five.
Harvey Nicholson struggled with some minor car issues, but still managed outright third.
Brett Sutherland’s rally-prepared Mark II Ford Escort rounded out the top five – and looked spectacular doing it.
Expect these drivers to again battle for supremacy in round three of the series on 4 October.
Class honours went to Paul Mountford in AWD/Special, ahead of Brett Sutherland in 2WD Rally and Matt Kennedy in 2WD Road.
Kai Hancock was the leading junior, ahead of Harvey Nicholson and Isabella Kennedy. Zahli Pell topped the ladies category, with Kennedy second.
Kennedy’s result was a great example of how categories and classes assist with levelling the playing field. She finished second in 2WD Road as well as earning third in the juniors and second in the ladies.
There were close battles across the rest of the field.
Just 0.14 seconds separated Tony Lynch (Subaru WRX) and Bernie Keast (Mazda 3) in their six-run totals, and only 1.06 seconds split Phil Isaac (Ford Falcon) and Damien Pell (VW Beetle).
The round brought together a diverse field of 18 starters in vehicles ranging from road cars, to hand-made rockets, and classic rally cars.
“Whether the car was a modern turbo AWD, a road car, a rally-prepared two-wheel drive or a well-loved banger, there was a place for it on the start line,” said a Coffs Harbour and District Sporting Car Club spokesperson.
“After their orientation lap, each driver had six timed runs, giving everyone plenty of chances to learn the course and build confidence.
“The times tumbled as the day went on, but the atmosphere stayed relaxed and friendly, with competitors swapping tips, lending a hand, and cheering each other on.”
Khanacross is a fun, low-pressure way to discover what a driver and their car can do on a set course away from public roads.
“You compete against the clock rather than door-to-door, so the focus is on car control, learning and improving your own times,” the club spokesperson said.
“You don’t need to be a seasoned racer: everyone starts somewhere. Club events are a great place to ask questions and learn the ropes.
“Anyone who’s wondered about amateur motorsport come for a look, a chat or a drive. They’ll get help with entry requirements, vehicle eligibility, and the basic safety gear required.
“Enjoy a day with people who are passionate about cars.”
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