Australian Rally Championship

The Australia Rally Championship (ARC) is Australia's leading road motor rally competition. A multi-event national championship has been held each year since 1968.

Australian Rally Championship
CategoryRallying
CountryAustralia
Inaugural season1968
Tyre suppliersHoosier Tire Australia
Drivers' championHarry Bates
John McCarthy
Teams' championToyota Gazoo Racing Australia
Official websiterally.com.au
Current season
Australian Rally Championship, West Australian Round, night stage. 2006.

Competition - to 2010

The Australia Rally Championship takes in some of the country's most stunning and picturesque locations. The 2010 season starts with Rally Tasmania, the only tarmac round in the championship. Based in the small coastal city of Burnie, Australia's longest-running tarmac rally is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year.

The second round sees the championship head across the country for the Quit Forest Rally. The rally is based in the coastal tourist town of Busselton, near Margaret River in Western Australia. Many of the rally stages are narrow and tree-lined, and are often covered in the notoriously slippery, ball-bearing gravel.

The third round of the championship takes place in the forest roads in the hills around Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. The Coffs Coast Rally, known for its numerous surface changes, was cancelled in 2009 due to heavy rains and road damage.

The championship then moves to the Rally of South Australia. The rally stages are located in the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker regions, and are within driving distance of the state capital Adelaide. The rally stages are the smoothest and fastest in the championship, making the rally a favourite for competitors and spectators alike.

Round four of the Australia Rally Championship, and also a round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Championship, is the International Rally of Queensland. The stages are held in the forests around the township of Imbil, in the Mary Valley just north of Brisbane. The stages vary between tight and technical and fast and flowing, with many rough sections that give this event a reputation as a potential car-breaker.

The final round of the ARC will be a new round in the state of Victoria. The event is set to based in the town of Drouin, located about 100 kilometres east of Melbourne. The rally stages are to be held mostly in the foothills of Mount Baw Baw, using forestry roads in the Nojoee - Neerim district.

The Championship itself is a highly competitive series, featuring a host of talented teams all racing the clock for the honour of being champion. The competition is often very close, with drivers trading stage times over the gravel and tarmac roads and often finishing just tenths of seconds ahead or behind their rivals. In the forest, the action is thrilling. Cars slide sideways through high-speed corners and dodge and dive over challenging crested roads as the team-work between driver and co-driver is tested to the limit.

Competition classes

A Subaru Impreza WRX competing in an Australian rally.

The Australia Rally Championship caters to a range of different competitors in the series and with a number of classes and categories; competitors can start rallying at the level that best suits their budget. The outright competition is fought out amongst the names of rallying and is the ultimate test for the competitors at the pointy end of the field. The ARC's top drivers compete in Group N (Production) - cars which have direct links to their road-going counterparts. The ARC also offers opportunities for manufacturers who don't produce Group N cars to build comparable machinery under both the Group N (P) and FIA Super 2000 regulations. Another award that is desirable for competitors to chase is the Privateers Cup for competitors who don't have support from the manufacturer teams. The F16 Championship is the small car category (1600cc, 2WD) and a budget-level place to start rallying. The outright winner of the Championship is an Australian Champion in the small car category and is added to the record books. The Aussie Cup is the Australian award for large cars (over 2500cc) that enables competitors in the big cars to run popular passenger car models such as V6 and V8's. Amongst the outright awards are the opportunities to chase individual class awards that are based on car capacity and specification which gives competitors the opportunity to pursue class victories.

Cars

The more successful cars in recent years of the ARC have been the 4WD 2.0L Turbo models such as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions, Subaru Impreza WRX STIs and the Toyota Corolla ARC-spec cars, which are actually running Toyota Celica GT-Four engines, 4WD system, etc.. Michael Guest and Mark Stacey campaigned a RWD 2.5L normally aspirated Ford Focus during the 2006 season, switching to a Ford Fiesta prepared for the Super 2000 class in 2007. Most of the cars in the privateer fields are of a similar make, but other makes with success have been the Mitsubishi Mirage, Mitsubishi Galant VR-4, Subaru Legacy, Datsun 1600, Datsun 240Z, Nissan Stanza and the Suzuki Swift GTi.

Drivers

As with the cars, it tends to be the factory-entered drivers that take the outright placings. Some of these drivers have been Colin Bond, Greg Carr. George Fury, Ross Dunkerton, Geoff Portman, Scott Pedder, Simon Evans, Neal Bates, the late Possum Bourne and Ed Ordynski. Privateer crews that have enjoyed recent success include Nathan Quinn and Steve Glenney. In 2015 Molly Taylor became the first woman to win a heat in the Australia Rally Championship.[1]

Winners

Possum Bourne and Craig Vincent (1998)
Scott Pedder and Dale Moscatt. Renault Clio R3. International Rally of Queensland 2014

Australian Rally Champions

YearDriverCo-driverVehicle
1968Victoria (state) Harry FirthVictoria (state) Graham HoinvilleFord Cortina Lotus[2]
1969Victoria (state) Frank KilfoyleNew South Wales Doug RutherfordFord Cortina Lotus
1970Victoria (state) Robert WatsonVictoria (state) Jim McAuliffeRenault R8 Gordini
1971New South Wales Colin BondNew South Wales George ShepheardHolden Torana LC GTR XU-1
1972New South Wales Colin BondNew South Wales George ShepheardHolden Torana LJ GTR XU-1
1973Australian Capital Territory Peter LangVictoria (state) Warwick SmithHolden Torana LJ GTR XU-1
1974New South Wales Colin BondNew South Wales George ShepheardHolden Torana LJ GTR XU-1
1975Western Australia Ross DunkertonWestern Australia John LargeDatsun 240Z
1976Western Australia Ross DunkertonVictoria (state) Jeff BeaumontDatsun 260Z
1977Western Australia Ross Dunkerton
Victoria (state) George Fury
Victoria (state) Jeff Beaumont
Victoria (state) Monty Suffern
Datsun 260Z
Datsun 710
1978Australian Capital Territory Greg CarrNew South Wales John Dawson-Damer*Ford Escort RS
1979Western Australia Ross DunkertonTasmania Jeff BeaumontDatsun Stanza
1980Victoria (state) George FuryVictoria (state) Monty SuffernDatsun Stanza
1981Victoria (state) Geoff PortmanVictoria (state) Ross RunnallsDatsun Stanza
1982Victoria (state) Geoff PortmanVictoria (state) Ross RunnallsDatsun 1600
1983Western Australia Ross DunkertonNew South Wales Geoff JonesDatsun 1600
1984Victoria (state) David OfficerVictoria (state) Kate OfficerMitsubishi Galant GB
1985South Australia Barry LoweSouth Australia Kevin PedderSubaru RX Turbo
1986South Australia Barry LoweVictoria (state) Kate Officer **Subaru RX Turbo
1987Australian Capital Territory Greg CarrAustralian Capital Territory Fred GocentasAlfa Romeo GTV6
1988Queensland Murray CooteQueensland Iain StewartMazda 323 4WD
1989Australian Capital Territory Greg CarrAustralian Capital Territory Mick HarkerLancia Delta Integrale
1990South Australia Ed OrdynskiSouth Australia Mark NelsonMitsubishi Galant VR-4
1991Western Australia Robert HerridgeWestern Australia Steve VanderbylSubaru Liberty RS
1992Western Australia Robert HerridgeSouth Australia Mark NelsonSubaru Liberty RS
1993Australian Capital Territory Neal BatesNew South Wales Coral TaylorToyota Celica GT-Four
1994Australian Capital Territory Neal BatesNew South Wales Coral TaylorToyota Celica GT-Four
1995Australian Capital Territory Neal BatesNew South Wales Coral TaylorToyota Celica GT-Four
1996New Zealand Possum BourneNew South Wales Craig VincentSubaru Impreza 555
1997New Zealand Possum BourneNew South Wales Craig VincentSubaru Impreza 555
1998New Zealand Possum BourneNew South Wales Craig VincentSubaru Impreza 555
1999New Zealand Possum BourneNew South Wales Craig VincentSubaru Impreza WRC98
2000New Zealand Possum BourneQueensland Mark StaceySubaru Impreza WRC98
2001New Zealand Possum BourneNew South Wales Craig VincentSubaru Impreza WRC
2002New Zealand Possum BourneQueensland Mark StaceySubaru Impreza WRX STi
2003Victoria (state) Cody CrockerVictoria (state) Greg FolettaSubaru Impreza WRX STi
2004Victoria (state) Cody CrockerVictoria (state) Greg FolettaSubaru Impreza WRX STi
2005Victoria (state) Cody CrockerVictoria (state) Dale MoscattSubaru Impreza WRX STi Spec-C
2006Victoria (state) Simon EvansVictoria (state) Sue EvansToyota Corolla Sportivo (NP)
2007Victoria (state) Simon EvansVictoria (state) Sue EvansToyota Corolla Sportivo (NP)
2008Australian Capital Territory Neal BatesNew South Wales Coral TaylorToyota Corolla S2000
2009Victoria (state) Simon EvansNew South Wales Sue EvansToyota Corolla S2000
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2010Victoria (state) Simon EvansNew South Wales Sue EvansSubaru Impreza WRX STi
2011Victoria (state) Justin DowelVictoria (state) Matt LeeMitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2012 2WD:Victoria (state) Eli Evans Queensland Glen Weston Honda Jazz
4WD:New South Wales Michael Boaden New South Wales Helen Cheers Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2013 Victoria (state) Eli Evans Queensland Glen Weston Honda Jazz
2014 Victoria (state) Scott Pedder New South Wales Dale Moscatt Renault Clio
2015 Victoria (state) Eli Evans Queensland Glen Weston Citroen DS3
2016 New South Wales Molly Taylor Western Australia Bill Hayes Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2017 New South Wales Nathan Quinn Western Australia Bill Hayes *** Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2018 Victoria (state) Eli Evans Western Australia Ben Searcy Skoda Fabia R5
2019 Australian Capital Territory Harry Bates Queensland John McCarthy Toyota Yaris AP4

* Fred Gocentas co-drove for Greg Carr during the 1978 season while Dawson-Damer co-drove for Colin Bond while also scoring points on one occasion co-driving for Dave Morrow which enabled him to beat Gocentas to the co-driver's title.
** Kate Officer co-drove for David Officer during the 1986 season.
*** Bill Hayes co-drove for Molly Taylor during the 2017 season. David Calder and Ben Searcy co-drove for Quinn in 2017.

Group N Rally Championship

YearDriverCo-driverVehicle
1990Ed Ordynski (SA)Mark Nelson (SA)Mitsubishi Galant VR4
1991Bob Nicoli (WA)Brian Harwood (WA)Daihatsu Charade GTti
1992Robert Herridge (WA)Mark Nelson (SA)Subaru Liberty RS
1993Ed Ordynski (SA)Mark Stacey (SA)Mitsubishi Lancer RS-E
1994Ed Ordynski (SA)Mark Stacey (SA)Mitsubishi Lancer RS-E2
1995Ed Ordynski (SA)Mark Stacey (SA)Mitsubishi Lancer RS-Ev2
1996Michael Guest (NSW)Steve O'Brien-Pounde (NSW)Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
1997Michael Guest (NSW)Mark Stacey (SA)Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
1998Cody Crocker (VIC)Greg Foletta (VIC)Subaru Impreza WRX
1999Cody Crocker (VIC)Greg Foletta (VIC)Subaru Impreza WRX
2000Cody Crocker (VIC)Greg Foletta (VIC)Subaru Impreza WRX
2001Cody Crocker (VIC)Greg Foletta (VIC)Subaru Impreza WRX
2002Possum Bourne (NZ)Mark Stacey (QLD)Subaru Impreza WRX

Australian Manufacturers Champions

YearCompany
1969Ford Motor Co of Aust.
1970Renault (Aust) Pty Ltd
1971General Motors-Holden's
1972General Motors-Holden's
1973General Motors-Holden's
1974General Motors-Holden's
1975Nissan Motor Co (Aust)
1976Nissan Motor Co (Aust)
1977Nissan Motor Co (Aust)
1988Mazda Motors Pty Ltd
1989Lancia Spa
1990Mitsubishi Motors Aust Ltd
1991Daihatsu Australia Pty Ltd
1992Daihatsu Australia Pty Ltd
1993Daihatsu Australia Pty Ltd
1994Daihatsu Australia Pty Ltd
1995Daihatsu Australia Pty Ltd
1996Daihatsu Australia Pty Ltd
1997Mitsubishi Motors Aust Ltd
1998Subaru Australia Pty Ltd
1999Subaru Australia Pty Ltd
2000Subaru Australia Pty Ltd
2001Subaru Australia Pty Ltd
2002Subaru Australia Pty Ltd
2003Subaru Australia Pty Ltd
2004Subaru Australia Pty Ltd
2005Subaru Australia Pty Ltd
2006Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited
2007Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited
2012Honda Motor Company Australia Limited
2013Honda Motor Company Australia Limited
2014Citroen Australia
2015Citroen Australia
2016Subaru Australia Pty Ltd

Australian Formula 2 Rally Champions

YearDriverCo-driverVehicle
1995Bob Nicoli (WA)Claire Parker (WA)Daihatsu Charade GTi
1996Ross Mackenzie (WA)Tony Brandon (ACT)Daihatsu Charade GTi
1997Brett Middleton (NSW)Linda Long (NSW)Honda Civic
1998Rick Bates (ACT)Jenny Brittan (NSW)Daihatsu Charade GTi
1999Simon Evans (VIC)Sue Evans (VIC)VW Golf Mk III Kit Car
2000Lee Peterson (TAS)Graham Legg-Stoker (VIC)Nissan Pulsar GTi
2001Andrew Hannigan (WA)Duncan Jordan (WA)Daihatsu Charade GTi
2002Warwick Rooklyn (NSW)Linda Long (NSW)Daihatsu Charade GTi

Australian F16 Rally Champions

YearDriverCo-driverVehicle
2003Lee Peterson (TAS)Graham Legg-Stoker (VIC)Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg
2004Denise Collins (SA)Gerard McConkey (QLD)Honda Civic
2005Leigh Garrioch (VIC)Ken Garrioch (VIC)Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg
2006Leigh Garrioch (VIC)Ken Garrioch (VIC)Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg

See also

References

  1. David McCowen (4 April 2015). "Molly Taylor makes rallying history by winning a heat of the Australian Rally Championship". Drive.com.au. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  2. "1968 CAMS AUSTRALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP, www.snooksmotorsport.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
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