Matt Shinnors and Mike Wilkey achieved the dream of a lifetime when they crossed the finishing line of last weekends Rally New Zealand. For the Anglo-Irish crew it was their first ever World Championship Rally attempt and their approach to the rally was to finish at all costs.

Shinnors from Limerick Ireland and Wilkey from Bath England were entered in a Mitsubishi Evo 6 hired from rally school specialists Rally Drive New Zealand.

Rally New Zealand was the penultimate round of the 2006 world rally championship based in Hamilton .A three day event it consisted of 354 km of gravel stages spread over 17 special stages.

For Shinnors and Wilkey Stage 1 proved dramatic. After 10km the Evo got wedged on a narrow bridge. The situation looked bleak until another car pushed it off the bridge and into a stream. A ten point turn in the stream allowed the crew regain the stage albeit with a large amount of penalties. The next four stages of the day were incident free.

On Day 2 the stages were treacherously slippery due to a monsoon but the Irish like conditions helped Shinnors to set some competitive times on the morning stages. However in the afternoon the loss of brake fluid led to another off resulting in some superficial body damage.

The third day started wet but dried out. Six stages 95km lay between Shinnors/Wilkey and their goal. It was a day for conservative driving and no heroics. The policy paid off and they finished 35^th in a punishing event. They arrived at the finish ramp ecstatic at their achievement.

Matt Shinnors said “that he was thrilled to finish a W.R.C rally at his first attempt. It was very long and tough. The stages were smooth but technical in places. I would like to thank Mike for a job well done, Dale Perry for renting the car the sponsors who made it possible and the service crew who had a busy weekend in the office.

Mike Wilkey said that it is a fabulous feeling to finish a rally in the world championship. It was very demanding but Matt and I gelled well in the car. While the aim was to finish at all costs I really enjoyed the stages on day two when Matt was giving it a lash.

msmotorsport car was sponsored by Rally Drive NZ, Hisence air-condition, Dirty Dog sunglasses and Waikato Clutch & Brake. The car was serviced by Irish/Kiwi crew which included Joe Shinnors, Alan Cottington, Barry & Derrick Driver, Malcolm Read, Robin & Dale Perry.

Kevin Shaw from Derry was the only other Irish driver to finish in 25^th overall in his Evo7. The event was won by the Ford Focuses of Marcus and Miko Hirvonen finishing first and second ensuring that Ford won the manufacturers prize for the first time since 1979.