Coffs Harbour driver, Mal Keough has dominated the 2018 Climatrol Air Conditioning Urbenville Sprint Rally, winning the Gold Coast Tweed Motorsporting Club’s popular six-stage event.
Behind the wheel of the immaculate Audi Quattro classic rally car, Keough beat the 21-car-field in style, seeing off challenges from Jeff Kilbride and Marius Swart to produce stunning final round times and win overall.
Kilbride, alongside daughter Holly in a 2WD Toyota Levin, finished second after consistent driving on Special Stage 4 saw them overtake Swart and co-driver Debble Applewaite when their Volkswagen Golf S2000 spun out.
Despite the spin, Swart still managed to secure the final spot on the podium edging out 2017 Queensland Junior Rally Champion, Brayden Wilson, who settled for fourth position. It was a sensational result for the 2WD Mitsubishi Mirage driver, who with his brother Brad as co-driver, finishing 16 seconds faster than 2016 winner, Matt Linning.
Kim Acworth was the pick of the ladies in her new Subaru Impreza, edging out Mitsubishi Lancer Evo pilot Melinda Bergman in an intense battle that had the crowd on the edge of their feat.
With John Spencer as navigator, Judy McNicoll made a brilliant debut winning her class and improving her times on every stage, while Coff’s Harbour husband and wife crew, Mark and Carol Fitton were also class winners.
The biggest surprise of the day saw CAMS Australian Rally Championship regular Adrian Coppin and Erin Kelly suffer a premature end when their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo’ turbo pipe blew, forcing the rally veteran to retire.
Coppin wasn’t the only casualty on the day, as P3 Solutions Queensland Rally Championship driver Gerard McConkey both got caught out on the same corner as Adam O’Brien in the Mazda 323, although O’Brien was able to recover and finish the event.
For the Gold Coast Tweed Motorsporting Club, celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2018, it was a successful event, leaving competitors, spectators, residents and community groups of Urbenville entertained throughout the weekend.
For more information on the event, click here.
