Current Rookie and Junior New Zealand Rally Champion, Matt Jansen, is looking to build on last year's extremely successful debut season and will be gunning for higher honours when the New Zealand Rally Championship [NZRC} starts with Rally Otago this weekend – April 9 -11.
 

The 22 year old Automotive Technician from Christchurch will continue to
use the version 10 MITECH WELDERS Subaru Impreza that brought him two
national titles in 2009, but following extensive testing during the off
season, Matt is quietly confident that the developments made will result
in even better performances in 2010.
 
"Consistency was the key to our success last year, and now we have
experienced just what it takes to make the step up to the NZRC, I know
we can go for even better overall results this year," said Matt.
 
"We have spent a lot of time since Nelson [the final NZRC round last
year] reviewing and upgrading key elements of the car, such as the
suspension and diff mapping, so we can make the most of getting the
power from Dwight's ScottSpeed Performance Engines power plant down to
the ground.
 
"That is one thing that will be very interesting to see at Otago – just
what effect the increase in the Turbo Restrictor size has [it's gone
from 32mm to 33mm worldwide] and whether any one make benefits more than
the other, because I know during our testing it has made a massive
difference for me. It really suits my driving style."
 
"No matter how much testing mileage you do, the real test will be in
Dunedin when the rally kicks off it will be our first competitive
mileage in the car with the new changes where we can compare stage times
with the other competitors – we can't wait!"
 
Regular Co-Driver Jason Farmer from Huntly will be back alongside Matt
when Rally Otago starts this Friday evening with the Ceremonial Start
outside the Dunedin Railway Station. The 16 high-speed special stage
action begins on Saturday morning and wraps up from 245pm on Sunday in
the Octagon, right in the heart of the city.
 
This year's NZRC campaign would not be possible without the dedicated
support of Mitech Welders, PMT Motorsport , Armstrong Subaru , Blue
Bridge & Strait Shipping, Proflex Suspension, HGM Construction,
Dunlop Tyres , Pagid Brake Pads, and ScottSpeed Performance Engines.