Australian Chris Atkinson is the first international driver to win the International Rally of Whangarei, taking victory in the two-day event by 12.4 seconds from New Zealand star Hayden Paddon with Masterton's Richard Mason in thrid.
Having won the Whangarei event three times since its inception in 2007, Paddon was the odds-on favourite to take another victory on the roads around Kaipara and Whangarei, but it wasn't to be for the popular driver from Geraldine.
After 301.9 muddy kilometres of competition, both outright and Asia Pacific Rally Championship honours went to Atkinson as he secured his third APRC event win this season in the distinctive yellow Proton Satria Neo S2000.
Adding to a successful weekend for the 30-year-old were maximum APRC points to further extend his lead in the 2011 APRC series with two rounds to go.
While Paddon piloted his CR Properties/Placemakers Subaru STI to collect maximum points in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship standings, Mason maintained his lead in New Zealand's top tier rally competition.
The APRC heads to Japan at the end of September and concludes in China in November.
The NZRC concludes in Hawke's Bay in August with three drivers - Mason, Paddon and Gilmour - still in contention to win.
