BEN HUNT ŠKODA NEW ZEALAND RALLY DRIVER

b.1998

Nelson, New Zealand

Ben followed in his fathers footsteps and started rallying in 2008 IN A CLASS B TOYOTA STARLET, CLASS VICTORIES IN BOTH NELSON AND WESTLAND RALLY IGNITED BEN’S PASSION TO RALLY. In 2009 DURING 3 DAYS OF INTENSE COMPETITION BEN WINS THE INAUGURAL RISING STARS SCHOLARSHIP TO COMPETE IN THE NZ RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVING A FULLY PREPARED GROUP N FORD FIESTA. BEN’S FIRST NATIONAL RALLY CLASS VICTORY CAME IN ROUND 4 IN THE WAIRARAPA. 2010 BEN MAKES THE DECISION TO FORM HIS OWN RALLY TEAM, HUNT MOTORSPORT. HIS TEAM BUILDS A NEW GROUP N FORD FIESTA OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS. A NEW CO DRIVER, TONY RAWSTORN IS SELECTED AND AFTER MANY HOURS WORKING ON HIS NOTES AND FAMILIARISING TONY WITH HIS PREFERRED STYLE BEN AND THE HUNT MOTORSPORT TEAM ARE READY FOR A REAL PUSH FOR THE NZ RALLY 2WD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

2011 WOULD BECOME THE PERFECT SEASON. AND IT WAS WITH 5 CLASS VICTORIES, 10 DAYS OF COMPETITION UNDEFEATED, 1ST PLACED 2WD IN THE NZ RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP, 1ST PLACED 2WD IN THE ASIA PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP NZ ROUND, 1ST NZ JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, WINNER FIESTA SPORTING TROPHY AND 6TH OVERALL IN NZ GOLD STAR CHAMPIONSHIP. SETTING A NEW NZ RECORD OF THE ONLY TEAM TO GO A WHOLE SEASON UNDEFEATED.

2012 SAW BEN DEFEND BOTH HIS NATIONAL DRIVERS AND FIESTA SPORTING TROPHY TITLES. 2013 BROUGHT A NEW CHALLENGE AS BEN MOVED INTO A 4WD GROUP N SUBARU IMPREZA WRX. 2014 SEASON WITH 5 OUT OF 6 PODIUMS - A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE FIRST YEAR IN THE 4WD CAR.

2015 Ben becomes the New Zealand Rally Champion. Starting 2016 in a new Subaru WRX STi NR4 from Subaru of New Zealand, saw Ben and the team take on new challenges, of developing the new car and tackling the roads on the NZRC.

2022 BEN BECOMES THE AMBASADOR FOR BEN HUNT
ŠKODA NEW ZEALAND AND THE GILTRAP GROUP AND BEGINS THE YEAR IN A NEW 2022 SKODIA FABIA RALLY2 EVO.

TONY RAWSTORN
CO DRIVER

b.1985

Timaru, New Zealand

Tony was living with Ben when Huntmotorsport was established, Ben was looking for a co driver and Tony was keen and ready to learn. Being an avid fan of motorsport growing up in Timaru with Levels Raceway almost in his back yard he had always had a keen interest in motorsport and had wanted to give rallying a go after many hours playing Colin McRae Rallying on Playstation.

Tony spent a lot of time with Ben training in the Nelson forestry on the way to call notes, write adjustments and the timing of delivery for the perfect notes.

Career highlights for Tony with Huntmotorsport are winning 2015 Gold Star NZ RallyChampionship and Twice National 2wd Champion 2011 and 2012.
Memorable moments so far,2010 2nd ever event as a co driver attending the novice drivers briefing at WRC New Zealand! enjoying a great fight back after engine issues and a soft roll in opening days of the rally to finish 2nd in Group N3 Winning Group N3 Internationl Rally of Whangarei in 2011 with a lead of over 14 mins.

2012 Winning Group N3 at WRC NZ after missing first half of the season.2012 2nd overall Rally Gisborne highest place finish of a 2wd car in New Zealand Rally Championship in 30 years. 2013 3rd overall International Rally of Whangarei, 1st in Group N4 only 2nd ever event in 4wd. 2013 1st overall win in New Zealand Rally Championship Rally Day Breaker driving Group N car vs Group A cars

Leading NZRC for 3 rounds in 2013 in Debut year in a 4wd car.

Titles

2021

NZRC 2nd Overall Gold Start New Zealand Rally Champion

2019

NZRC 1st Overall Gold Start New Zealand Rally Champion

2017

- Canterbury Rally - 2nd Overall
- Coromandel Rally - 3rd Overall
- rally Waitomo - 1st Overall

2016

- Otago Rally- 2nd Overall

2015

NZRC 1st Overall Gold Start New Zealand Rally Champion

- International Rally Whangarei-1st NZRC, 3rd Overall
- Rally Canterbury- 1st Overall
- Rally Coromandel- 1st Overall
- Rally Gisborne- 1st Overall

2014

2nd Overall Gold Star New Zealand Rally Championship

- Rally Whangarei Round 1 - mechanical DNF
- Rally Otago Round 2, electrical failure Day 1, Day 2 winner
- Rally Canterbury Round 3 -2nd Overall
- Rally Wairarapa Round 4 - 2nd Overall
- Day Breaker Rally Round 6 - 2nd Overall

2013

5 Podiums in the New Zealand Rally Championship

- Rally Otago Round - 3rd Overall
- Rally Whanagrei Round 2 - 1st GRP N and 4th Overall
- Daybreaker Rally Round 3 - 1st Overall
- Canterbury Rally Round 4 - 2nd Overall
- Possum Bourne Memorial Rally Round 5 - 2nd Overall

2012

New Zealand Rally Championship, 2WD Driver Winner

2011