Current 2WD Australian Rally Champions, Sydney businessman Adam Kaplan and his co-driver Aleshia Penney, are set to tackle the South Australian round of the Australian Rally Championship on September 16th and 17th.
They are expecting stiff competition from young charger Lewis Bates in his Toyota Corolla as the 2 battle it out for this year’s 2WD championship with only 2 rounds to go, and enough points on hand for either to take out the title.
Many SA motor sport fans will remember Adam Kaplan’s enormous crash in his Giocattolo on Norton Summit whilst leading Classic Adelaide back in 2007.
Kaplan, who attended Norwood High School for a short time when his family lived in Urrbrae, has a soft spot for South Australia after winning the 2WD section of last year’s rally, his first ever gravel rally. “It was a real eye opener for me after 20 plus years of successful Tarmac rallying to be so competitive in our first ever gravel rally.” Said Kaplan, a former Classic Adelaide winner. “And whilst the Barossa wines are always a good reason to return to SA, during the rally it’s the Mt Pleasant Bakery that gets most of our business, they have to be some of the best pies in the country!” said Penney.
Last year’s Lightforce Rally SA also provided Kaplan and Penney with this astounding photograph of their 1990 Mazda RX7 literally flying through the air. “Someone we respected said to take the jump flat, so we did.” said Kaplan, but it’s fair to say that the resulting height was something of a surprise and the pair consider themselves lucky to have pulled the car up before the next corner. “It’s fair to say that I won’t be calling that jump as flat this year.” said Penney, a little wiser with a full season of gravel rally under her belt.
“We’re also excited about the night stages, Rally SA is the only ARC round that has night stages and there’s something really special about blasting through the Mt Crawford forest in pitch darkness with only the Lightforce light bar to illuminate the road ahead.” said Kaplan.
Check out all the best places to see Adam Kaplan, Aleshia Penney and their Championship winning RX7 in action on the Lightforce Rally SA website.
