Unfinished Business at Rally Victoria
Reigning & four time Australian Rally Champion, husband and wife crew, Sue and Simon Evans from Nar Nar Goon are a surprise entry in the upcoming Rally Victoria on 11/12th November.
A year to the day since announcing their retirement from the top level of competition, the lure of contesting the only Australian Championship Round (currently running) that they have not won was too much for the pair to endure.
In 2010 at the inaugural running of Rally Victoria the potent “Tankformers” WRX suffered a rare mechanical problem that sent them off the road and stranded on Friday’s second stage. Starting again on the Saturday, in typical Evans style, the team went out and was fastest on all but 1 stage.
In an eleventh hour deal struck with team owner and event sponsor, Peter Evans from Tankformers in Pakenham, saw the teams entry hand delivered with only hours to spare.
Simon and Sue have vowed to come out with all guns blazing and prove that the year spent in the wilderness concentrating on their expanding concreting business hasn’t slowed the couple at all. “To me it is unfinished business. I really want to win this Rally!” said Simon at a recent meeting.
The Evans team certainly won’t have it all their own way in seeking to win the event. With the Series on the line, Ryan Smart from Qld and local Victorian Justin Dowel fighting out for the podium in the new “unrestricted” vehicles, the scene is set for an epic battle.
While the limelight has been centered on the front few, Eli Evans, Simon’s younger brother, has been thrilling the crowds around Australia in the awesome Honda Civic Type R. Struggling only slightly with two wheel drive the team has set stunning times and regularly placed on the podium knocking off the more fancied 4 wheel drive turbo machines.
The event is set to descend on Baw Baw Shire on the 11th and 12th of November starting off from Lardner Park.
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:28 PM
Rallyists Lending a Helping Hand
The final round of the Australian Rally Championship, Rally Victoria, poised to descend on Lardner Park and the Forest Roads around the Shire of Baw Baw on November 11/12th are extending a helping hand to a number of fantastic Charities.
The Championship Series has adopted the Make a Wish foundation throughout 2011 while the event also has a charity of choice in the Cambodian Children’s fund which has a link to one of the front running teams. Monies raised at the spectator points get donated to them where it goes directly to the running of a children’s orphanage. Every dollar goes a long way in Cambodia and makes an incredible difference to the future of these kids’ lives.
A few lucky people also won a recent charity auction for the Cancer foundation and will be taking a ride of their lives with 2 of Australia’s fastest drivers at the VIP/Media day on Friday morning before the crews head to the hills to do serious battle amongst the trees and bends on some of the best roads of the Championship.
Also doing the rounds of the local towns in the lead up and at the event and will be the series mascot “ARChie”.
ARChie’s sure to put a smile on the smallest rally fans face and handing out a few goodies to the not so young among us!
Posted on October 17, 2011 at 6:42 PM
Series up for Grabs at Rally Vic
With the Coffs Coast Rally done and dusted the Bosch ARC Series heads to Victoria for the Final Round “Rally Victoria” on November the 11th and 12th where the series will be up for grabs.
With Ryan Smart leading by a meager few points ahead of Justin Dowel in his, “Unrestricted” Activ Rallysport Evo IX, it should be decided between the two but waiting to clean up sits Mark Pedder who still has a mathematical chance to be crowned the 2011 Outright Australian Rally Champion should Dowel and Smart suffer problems. Also hoping to continue with his podium positions of late will be Eli Evans in the potent, sweet sounding Tankformers Honda Civic Type R that just seems to be getting quicker with each outing.
Apart from the National Championship the Exedy Victoria Championship will also be decided along with the Batronics Excel Series and the Classic Rally Series who will also be strutting their stuff at the event, including some exciting entries that we will reveal closer!
To all crews Supplementary Regulations are now available to download from HERE
People who wish to be an official can register via the Officials registration page HERE
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 10:23 PM
All Systems Go for 2011 Rally Victoria
Preparations for the 2011 Rally Victoria are well advanced and a challenging season finale to the Bosch ARC and Exedy VRC will confront crews on Friday 11th and Saturday the 12th of November.
As in its inaugural running in 2010 the event will again be based out of the picturesque Lardner Park, Warragul and host the Media/VIP Rides day, Service Park, Event Headquarters, Super Special Stages, Event Podium and Post Event -Series and Event Presentation Dinner.
Bosch ARC crews will contest Heat 1 over 75km’s, consisting of 2 forest stages run twice each and 2 Super Specials on the Friday. Saturday sees the VRC crews (incorporating the Hyundai Excel Series) joining the event and competing behind Heat 2 of the ARC over 150 km’s on 8 spectacular forest stages and finishing off with a final dash around the Lardner Super Special.
As a welcome addition to this year’s event leading off at the Super Specials on Friday and the field on Saturday are the “Classics” who are promising to be out in force and put on a spectacular display of cars and crews from yesteryear.
Recce is available on Thursday only and two passes easily achievable in the time available.
Further information, Supplementary regulations and Spectator information will be posted on www.rally.com.au and www.rallyvictoria.com.au soon.
Posted on July 17, 2011 at 9:49 PM