Two-wheel drive

I'm sure he'll have his own targets of what he wants to achieve across the weekend, mate.

But if we look at open two-wheel drive, Ari Pettigrew, of course, the big in.

He wasn't at Hawke's Bay, the Drive Safe New Zealand Rally Hawke's Bay last time out, but we get to see the Porsche up in Whangarei, and that battle with Dave Strong and Tim Mackesy So keeping him honest, but those two themselves battling each other for the minor spots potentially on the podium.

And we saw Ari last weekend at Ashley Forest getting himself back in and becoming the first two-wheel drive car to ever go under the minute, the magic minute around Ashley Forest.

So he's given nothing away by having an event out of the seat.

And he will be wanting to probably try and worry some of those guys in the top the back end of that top end of the field.

Obviously, we're going to see a lot more back at the finale at Bay of Plenty.

A lot of teams saving themselves and trying to save some money in the tough economic climate that we're in.

On to Saturday, the podium did change a little, with Kyle Carlin taking the top spot, while Terry Blackburn stayed in second, and Brian Bowles was in third.

The Region 2 Two-Wheel Drive saw a lot of pullers from the Grand National Tour make the trip.

Friday, Kelly Nichols in One Fine Edge took the win by 10 feet over Jesse Petro, and 12 feet better than Tim Beatty.

Saturday, the podium had a top new tenant.

that's spot on.

The critical thing to remember about the 84 German Nats, it was strictly 2WD only, two-wheel drive.

Which sounds maybe a bit odd today, but back then.

It was everything.

But 4WD was banned for this specific championship.

And that decision basically created this unique moment in time.

It preserved this pure 2WD battleground.

Kind of the last stand for that generation of cars at the very top level.