Nelson-born New Zealand rally driver Ben Hunt believes he can get more out of his Subaru next season. Photo: Geoff Ridder.

Ben Hunt sets sights on 2017

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Nelson-born New Zealand rally driver Ben Hunt is making the most of time away from behind the steering wheel.

Nelson-born New Zealand rally driver Ben Hunt believes he can get more out of his Subaru next season. Photo Geoff Ridder.
Nelson-born New Zealand rally driver Ben Hunt believes he can get more out of his Subaru next season. Photo Geoff Ridder.

The 2015 New Zealand Rally Champion completed the national championship season before a knee injury riding dirt bikes meant his offseason plans, behind the wheel of his Subaru WRX STI doing a lot of testing, had to be rethought.

Instead, he’s been watching his father Richard just complete Waitomo Rally on some of the old WRC roads.

Ben remains positive that the car has plenty more to give next season, having a further two years on his deal with the 2016 HYDRAULINK Subaru.

“It is hard to watch and be out from behind the wheel, but it’s given me a chance to think and look at things from a different perspective.

“Hopefully I can make the most of the break.”

Ben, who has relocated to Auckland in the hopes of further chasing his rally ambitions, says while the team still runs on a budget, the financial pressure isn’t as tight as the early days of his motorsport career.

“I’m fortunate to be in the position that I’m in,” Ben says.

“The past seven years have been very tough to get funding each season to run a professional campaign. But being in Auckland means I’m close to the sponsors and able to do more with them and get out and fulfill sponsorship commitments, which is a part of the sport I really do enjoy.

“Because without them I’d still be a guy on a farm in Nelson doing club events.”

Ben says, while a World Rally Championship drive is always the dream, the financial realities of trying to achieve it and follow in the footsteps of Geraldine’s Hayden Paddon, make it tough going.

“It’s always something that I aim towards and yes, that’s the ultimate goal, but funding is hard to get for Kiwis as we just don’t have the resources and options to raise the money needed for a campaign like that.”

Ben says, in the offseason, he’s keen to ensure he and his team get the most out of the car.

“Next year, we want to come back stronger and I’m confident that there is still a lot more that we can get out of the car, so it’s all very exciting.

“We’ll be working hard to get back to speed and hopefully winning rallies.”

For now, it’s the knee to get right.