After a successful start to the year, the CAMS Australian Rally Championship will head to Western Australia’s southwest in April.
The Make Smoking History Forest Rally will host another round of competitive action, with competitors no doubt eager to put in a good showing.
Only two of the current crop of leading drivers, Tankformers Eli Evans and Subaru do Motorsport’s Molly Taylor, have stood on the top step of the Forest Rally podium.
One of those drivers who will be keen to impress is Toyota Genuine Parts’ Harry Bates and John McCarthy, who head west on top of the CAMS Australian Rally Championship points table.
After debuting his new Toyota Yaris AP4 in Ballarat Bates will be looking to cement his place on top and secure his first win at the event.
“Forest Rally has been a really strong event for us in the past, I actually managed to take my very first heat win in the ARC in WA at the very start of 2016,” Bates said.
“It’s an event that is a big challenge for a driver. You’ve got that unique ball bearing surface, but the roads are really enjoyable and it’s a really well organised event and Busselton is a really great place to visit too.”
Three-time ARC Champion Eli Evans will head to Perth with a local advantage, with new co-driver and West Australian Ben Searcy on board to hopefully provide an added boost.
“Aggressive drivers do really well at the Forest Rally and I tend to be a little bit aggressive at times,” Evans said.
“It’s been a good rally for me in the past and we’re looking forward to it. We’ve got eight weeks before we have to start that event and we’ve got a list of things we want to change on the car and see if we can find that extra pace.”
More than 50 crews from across Western Australia and the nation will contest the Make Smoking History Forest Rally through the forests of Nannup and around the electric Trade Hire Busselton Special Stage. The event is the second round of both the CAMS Australian Rally Championship and the CAMS Onslow Contracting WA Rally Championship.
Supplementary Regulations for the Make Smoking History Forest Rally are now available and entries are now open here.
MAKE SMOKING HISTORY FOREST RALLY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday 26 April
Testing and Recce
Friday 27 April
Recce, VIP Day and 2 Stages of the Trade Hire Busselton Super Special Stage
Saturday 28 April
8 Stages in Nannup Forest, service park Nannup, 1 x Trade Hire Busselton Super Special Stage
Sunday 29 April
8 Stages in Nannup Forest, service park Nannup