Keighley Bounces Back
The H6 Cup heads to Canterbury Rally for the third round of the inaugural season, but for Amy Keighley, it marks something more after a dramatic off at the South Canterbury Rally. Despite what she calls “a pretty nothing crash,” it was big enough to sideline her regular car — thanks to one very immovable tree.
“We were coming downhill and understeered a bit, came completely off the line and into the tree,” Amy recounts. “It was actually much less slippery than the morning pass in the forest, so it definitely caught me off guard.” The impact? A hefty 11G hit, as measured by the Rallysafe system.
But in typical rallying fashion, there’s no time for wallowing — just a quick regroup and rebuild. With help from the ever-capable Magnum and Mark Smith, Amy's original car is in recovery mode, but she won’t be missing Canterbury. Thanks to a bit of foresight from her dad, a “spare” H6 is ready to go. “With both myself and Josh (Keighley) racing now, it was a bit inevitable we’d need it at some stage — albeit this was sooner than expected,” she says with a laugh.
Rallying connections run deep, and it was pervious H6 runner Paul Cross who stepped in next. “He was one of the first people to find out about the crash, as the spare car was still at his place. It needed a few bits and pieces done to it, but he got it all sorted and onto a Smith & Silcock transporter (owned by Canterbury Rally legend, John Silcock) up to Christchurch. We just need to tweak my seat and then we’re good to go on Sunday.”
And Amy’s got unfinished business at Canterbury. “Last year I aimed for a sub-9-minute run on Mt Grey Road up, but ended up with a 9:07. I know where I made mistakes and didn’t have good flow early on — I think I can make that time up.” While the South Canterbury crash might cause some nerves, Amy’s mindset is focused and positive. “If I do feel nervous, I’ll just use that stage to rebuild my confidence and have fun.”
That positive energy is a big part of what makes the H6 Cup special to Amy. “There are so many things I love about it. It’s a great group of people, and everyone genuinely supports each other. There’s healthy competition too, and it’s nice to switch times with people — it keeps things exciting across all levels.”
The numbers back it up too. “There are eight H6s at Canterbury Rally — that’s over 10% of the field. That’s more than any single National category,” Amy points out. The H6 Cup continues to grow, not just in size but in the spirit and sportsmanship that defines it.
With her sights set on redemption at Mt Grey and a fresh H6 under her, Amy Keighley is ready to remind everyone what makes this cup — and its drivers — something special.