By finishing second and fifth as the final result of the Rally of Nelson which was taken place on 19-20 September, Richard Mason and Emma Gilmour did more than enough to win the Manufacturer’s Championship for Subaru at the final round of this year’s national rally championship. Mason finished second on both days in his Impreza WRX STI to clinch runner-up position in the championship which was decided over five rounds.

Driving a back-up car as his usual bright yellow car has not returned from Rally Australia yet, Mason had started the weekend in third position in the title race. His gain was Gilmour’s loss. She was the only driver capable of beating Haydon Paddon to the title, but two punctures on the first two stages on Saturday put paid to her chances in her Subaru Impreza WRX STI. And because she drove so far on the rear puncture, her service crew had to change the rear differential because of the pounding it received on the forestry roads.

Gilmour had to be content with third in the championship as she only picked up a handful of points for twelfth place on Saturday. On Sunday’s second heat she finished third behind Paddon and Mason. It is her best placing in the championship. But their consistency gained Subaru 456 points in the Manufacturer’s championship with Mitsubishi trailing with 394 and Ford gaining 195. Mason and Gilmour’s efforts regained Subaru the title it had previously won in 2005, 2006 and 2007.