Rodger Freeth

Rodger Freeth
Personal information
NationalityNew Zealand New Zealander
Born(1953-12-24)24 December 1953
Tauranga, New Zealand
Died18 September 1993(1993-09-18) (aged 39)
Perth, Australia
World Rally Championship record
Active years1977, 1979–1980, 1984–1993
DriverNew Zealand Alan Carter
Finland Pentti Airikkala
New Zealand John Tee
New Zealand Neil Allport
New Zealand Possum Bourne
TeamsGM Dealer Team New Zealand
Subaru Deutschland
Fuji Heavy Industries
Subaru Motor Sport Group
Subaru Tecnica International
Subaru Rally Team Europe
Subaru Rally Team Australia
Subaru World Rally Team
Rallies24
Championships0
Rally wins0
Podiums0
Stage wins15
First rally1977 Rally New Zealand
Last rally1993 Rally Australia

Rodger Vincent Freeth, 24 December 1953 – 18 September 1993) was a New Zealand motor sport competitor.

Career

He held a PhD in physics and had a distinguished academic and motorsport career. His first love was motorcycles and whilst he was still at university he built a radical Yamaha TZ750A with an aerofoil. As a result, the controlling body (New Zealand Auto-Cycle Union) banned the use of aerodynamic aids in motorcycle racing. He won the Arai 500 endurance race at Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, Australia in 1982 and 1985, as well as NZ titles on NZ-built McIntosh Suzukis.

Awards and recognition

He later became one of New Zealand's best known rally co-drivers, first with Neil Allport and then with Peter "Possum" Bourne. As a driver he also won TraNZam titles in his V8 Starlet.

Freeth died in 1993 as a result of injuries received in an accident on the first day of the World Championship event Rally Australia co-driving for Possum Bourne.

Complete WRC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 WDC Points
1977 Alan Carter Ford Escort RS1800 MON SWE POR KEN NZL
Ret		 GRC FIN CAN ITA FRA GBR NC 0
1979 GM Dealer Team New Zealand Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS MON SWE POR KEN GRC NZL
Ret		 FIN CAN ITA FRA GBR CIV NC 0
1980 John Tee Ford Escort RS1800 MON SWE POR KEN GRC ARG FIN NZL
16		 ITA FRA GBR CIV NC 0
1984 Neil Allport Ford Escort RS1800 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL
Ret		 ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR NC 0
1985 Neil Allport Mazda RX-7 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL
Ret		 ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR NC 0
1986 Neil Allport Mazda RX-7 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL
6		 ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR 36th 6
Mazda Familia 4WD USA
11
1987 Neil Allport Mazda 323 4WD MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZL
Ret		 ARG FIN CIV ITA NC 0
Subaru Deutschland Subaru RX Turbo GBR
Ret
1988 Fuji Heavy Industries Subaru RX Turbo MON SWE POR KEN
9		 FRA GRC USA 72nd 2
Subaru Motor Sport Group NZL
Ret		 ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR
1989 Subaru Technica International Subaru RX Turbo SWE MON POR KEN
7		 FRA GRC NZL
DSQ		 ARG
Ret		 FIN AUS
10		 ITA CIV GBR 49th 5
1990 Subaru Technica International Subaru Legacy RS MON POR KEN
Ret		 FRA GRC NZL
5		 ARG FIN AUS
4		 ITA CIV GBR 14th 18
1991 Subaru Rally Team Europe Subaru Legacy RS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL
Ret		 ARG FIN AUS
Ret		 ITA CIV ESP GBR NC 0
1992 Subaru Rally Team Australia Subaru Legacy RS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL
Ret		 ARG FIN AUS
6		 ITA CIV ESP GBR 34th 6
1993 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Legacy RS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC ARG NZL
6		 FIN AUS
Ret		 ITA ESP GBR 31st 6

Other International Rally results

Result Year Rally Driver Car
2 1981 Motogard of Rally New Zealand Alan Mitchell Ford Escort RS1800
2 1988 Rally Australia (APRC) Possum Bourne Subaru RX Turbo

References

  1. ↑ "Blogseite.com". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Rodger Freeth Memorial Mundaring 2013".
  3. ↑ Walker, Mick (2006). The Manx Norton. Redline Books. pp. 304–305. ISBN 0-9544357-9-6.
  4. ↑ "Rodger Freeth – Driver Profile". Rallye-Info.com. Retrieved 5 August 2011.[dead link]
  5. ↑ "Rodger Freeth « V8 – drag racing, hot rods, muscle cars, car shows – NZV8 magazine". V8.co.nz. 10 May 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "Yamaha TZ750A "Aerofoil" | Special Yamaha bikes | Special Yamaha bikes". Classicyams.com. Retrieved 5 August 2011.