Millen Fastest In Second Qualifying Round

 Ex pat Kiwi Rod Millen was fastest up the hill in the second qualifying round at the Silverstone Race to the Sky this morning just over a second faster than defending champion Monster Tajima.

Millen put on his usual crowd pleasing performance in his Toyota Hi Lux to clock 8.36.30 while Monster, who had the fastest qualifying time yesterday, could only manage 8.27.39.

His Suzuki Escudo just edged out Ian Ffitch on his BMW 1000 quad bike in 8.37.82. Ffitch was fourth fastest overall yesterday and is setting himself up well to win the coveted Possum Bourne Memorial trophy for the fastest resident Kiwi competitor.

Marty Roestenburg was fourth fastest today in 8.52.41 while the highly rated Andrew Hawkeswood could only manage a ninth placing in 9.10.77 after taking third place yesterday.

There was more bad luck for former Swedish World Rally Championship driver, Kenneth Eriksson, driving Possum Bourne’s WRC Subaru. After mechanical issues yesterday his hopes were high for a good time this morning. But turbo problems prevented him reaching the top of the hill, and his service crew are now battling against time to prepare the car, for this afternoon’s Race to the Sky.

Otago’s Mike Turfus is also having his problems. After being unable to compete in the first qualifying round due to mechanical problems, he rolled his car on the flat this morning, carried on and blew a head gasket putting him out of the course.

Fifteen cars will take part in a rally pro shootout this afternoon –the three top competitors from the five competition categories –to decide the start positions for the Silverstone Race to the Sky.