The entry list for the Subaru Rally Tasmania has been confirmed, with 29 crews set to do battle around the forests of Launceston for the third round of the 2019 CAMS Australian Rally Championship.
While there are a number of familiar faces taking part in this month’s Tasmanian round, there is also a mixture of returning stars and young talent part of the national line-up.
After two brilliant performances in the opening rounds to date, Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia’s Harry Bates and John McCarthy lead the championship and will be looking to make it three from three.
The leaders will be joined by the younger Toyota teammates Lewis Bates and Anthony McLaughlin, as the partnership will be hoping to replicate the same form as their season opener podium in Western Australia.
Also full of confidence heading into their ‘home rally’ is Subaru Do Motorsport’s Molly Taylor and Malcolm Read, with the 2016 ARC champion’s podium in Canberra their first for the year.
Other regular 2019 drivers include Shamrock Motorsport’s Richie Dalton and Dale Moscott in the Ford Fiesta G4, while AGI Sport’s Luke Anear and Steve Glenney will be behind the wheel of their brand new Ford Fiesta R5.
Anear’s Fiesta won’t be the only R5 on the grid, with West Australian’s John O’Dowd and Toni Feaver to be driving their Skoda Fabia in the ARC for the first time since the Make Smoking History Forest Rally in April.
The third and final R5 to make up the field will belong to Marcus and Scott Walkem, with the duo to be behind the wheel of the BE Power prepared Hyundai i20 in their first ARC round since Tasmania last year.
Click here to view the full entry list.
After spending the past few years racing off road, as well as winning the DEWALT CAMS Australian SXS Championship, the ever popular four-time ARC champion Simon Evans will make his grand return alongside Bernie Webb in the Les Walkden Rallying prepared Subaru WRX STi.
Also on the national entry list is a host of local talent, both young and old, with the three crews set to cause a stir on the national stage.
Current CAMS Tasmanian Rally Champion, and 2018 Burson Future Star Award recipient, Bodie Reading will make his ARC debut alongside Mark Young, after competing in the state rally competition last year.
Last year, Reading took on fellow title contender Timothy Auty, who is also part of this year’s Tasmania line-up in the Mazda 323 with Jon Mitchell.
The third Tasmanian to have a crack at the national class is Subaru WRX STi pilots Mark Butcher and Warren Phillip-Clarke, the pair driving for Performance Driving Australia.
Rounding out the national entry list is Right Price Auto Repairs’ Kevin Raedel. The South Australian will be driving the ever-sideways Ford XR6 with Victorian Amanda Ramia as his co-driver.
Alongside the 12 national entrants, a further 16 other drivers are taking part in the third round of the state championship with Daniel Traverso and Andy Sarandis in the Buckey.
Motorsport and CNW Electrical Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Pajero pilots Les Walkden and Reubecca Sheldrick the big names to look out for.
Click here to view the full entry list.
The Subaru Rally Tasmania takes places around the forests of Launceston on 21 – 23 June.
