Scotsman Alister McRae has won the 2015 Repco Race to the Sky event in New Zealand, being held on its first run since 2007.
McRae, the brother of the late Colin McRae, was driving a Subaru Impreza Ex WRC car that was once raced by the late Possum Bourne.
The Race to the Sky, which has been in hiatus since 2007, is now the longest gravel hill climb in the world, now that Pikes Peak, in the USA, has been totalled converted to tarmac. The events course is 14.5 km in length, and includes 135 corners and climbs from 450 to 1500 metres above sea level.
McRae didn’t have the best start to the final day, with a engine problem forcing his team to change the cars engine before the afternoons final run. The engine did the job and McRae took out the event win.
Australian Brett Haywood took out 2nd place in a Suzuki-powered open wheeler, with Kiwi driver Ian Ffitch taking out third place and he also won the Possum Bourne Memorial Trophy as the fastest New Zealander.
Event promoter Tony Quinn confirmed this afternoon that the event will return in 2016, which is great news for event and rally fans.
Below you can see highlights from Sunday’s action as well as selection of other videos from the event, including Possum Bourne’s 2001 winning run.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjoF4wykUJw?rel=0]
See Possum’s winning run in 2001
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkFqJh-zGfk?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
The Events TV Advert
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLsFiGYQ38M?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
Experience the course from a drivers point of view
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzf-1V8NlgU?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
Thursday Preview
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=top6RLk7vGw?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
Friday Highlights
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTIrddfC5bE?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
Saturday highlights
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkwuGM4ImUs?rel=0&w=640&h=360]