Name:

Raymond Bennett

Age:

39

Marital status:

Happily Married!!?

Children:

One daughter named Sierra……one of her middle names is Cosworth!!!

Occupation:

Electron Microscopist

Place of birth:

Palmerston North, NEW ZEALAND

Country or county where you live:

NEW ZEALAND

Does your spouse / partner like rallying?

Everything….except washing the dirty overalls afterwards

Any other hobbies?

Downhill Bobsled, Photography, Soccer

Favourite food:

New Zealand Lamb

Favourite drink:

Either Steinlager or ice water and lime…depends what the result was??

Favourite motorsport paper / magazine:

As many as I can read……………

Favourite sports person (other than rallying):

Graham Henry, the Welsh Rugby Coach, and Alto Boldon, the runner

Favourite film star:

Sandra Bullock

Favourite holiday destination:

Noosa Heads in Australia or Queenstown here in New Zealand

Which TV sports programmes do you watch?

Shell Helix Motorsport. A 4 hour dedicated programme every Sunday afternoon here in NZ. Only 3 TV Stations in NZ!!

How did you start out?

Filling in for a mate whose co-driver was sick the morning of the Rally.

First driver you sat with: 

First event:

1981 Waimahia Forest Rally in Taupo NZ

Type of licence held:

International Rally

Which motor club do you belong to?

Manawatu Car Club, Motorsport New Zealand

Do you contribute towards your rallying?

Yes……both money and sweat!!

Have you ever driven on a rally?

Yes, once…won Rookie Award and promptly retired!

Did you ever marshal on events? When and where?

Yes. All over NZ for 6 years

How many events do you get to watch? (eg. per year)

Rather be entered than watching.

How many rallies do you take part in? (eg. per year)

10

Have you competed abroad? Where and when?

Yes. 1998 International Rally USA and finished 2^nd overall

Favourite rally car:

Anything that is fast!!……that also stays on the road…..

Favourite rally driver:

Anyone that is fast!!……that also stays on the road…..

Favourite rally co-driver:

Roger Freeth (deceased)

Favourite bit of road or forest:

Motu, Waipu Gorge and Whaanga Coast…all here in NZ

Do you prefer pace notes or map reading events?

Pace Notes

Things you dislike about rallying?

When it's raining, and spectators who throw rocks!

Who do you think will win the World Rally Championship in 2002?

Petter Solberg, if given half a chance

Drivers you have sat with:

All from NZ…….Geof Argyle 2x NZ Rally Champion

Todd Bawden NZ Scholarship Winner

Robert Murray NZ Junior Winner

Sam Murray (his brother) soon to be Champ?

Best driver you have ever sat with? 

Best result:

1^st Nzer/10^th overall 1998 Rally NZ (WRC)

2^nd overall 1998 Rally USA

Worst result:

All those DNFs parked off the road down the bank.....thinking what might have been…………

Championships contested:

NZ Rally Championship

Tasman Cup Rally Championship (between NZ and Australia)

Selected rounds of Asia Pacific Rally Championship

Best Championship result:

1^st

Best rally memory:

Sharing the joys of victory with close family, meeting so many good people from around the world who all share the same passion

Strangest incident on a rally:

Car upside down 50 feet UP a tree at night

Biggest accident:

1999 Rally New Zealand in Group N Evo4

Achievements gained from rallying:

Your current driver(s) and events or Championships being contested in 2001

Todd Bawden, Group A Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6 NZ Rally Championship……won 2 of 5 rounds outright

Finished 4th overall in NZ Rally Championship

How could you improve your ‘own’ current performance?

How could you improve your current driver’s performance?

If you had £50,000 to spend on rallying, what would you do? 

Start my own team to give a junior driver the opportunity to step up.

Where would you most like to compete (in the world):

Anywhere in Europe

Which rally would you most like to compete in?

Network Q, Corsica, Monte Carlo, etc.

Which driver(s) would you most like to co-drive for?

One that appreciates your efforts, one that you can share the good and bad times with,…..one that knows about NZ beer!!

Ambition in rallying for the future:

Compete at the top level. Be it WRC or European Rally Championship

What would you like to put back into rallying?

Opportunities for the younger drivers

Which up-and-coming rally driver can you recommend?

Again, here in NZ we have a few than could foot-it in Europe.

Both Chris West and Geof Argyle

What would be the best tip you could give to other co-drivers?

Make it a friendship; then the relationship in the car is easy.

posted 18/10/01

Executive member of Motorsport NZ

Chairman of Circuit Racing Commission

Deputy Chairman of Rallying Commission

Licensed International Pace Car Driver, active in NZ