The anticipation was high ahead of the CAMS Australian Rally Championship’s South Australian round in September, after a major revamp of the event in 2018.
New organisers Ultimate Motorsport Events introduced the BOTT Adelaide Hills Rally to the national calendar, with the service park based in Mount Barker, just 30 minutes outside of Adelaide’s CBD.
However, while many were looking forward the strong combination of some of Australia’s best gravel roads and beautiful scenery, it was the Super Special Stage that got everyone talking.
We would like to thank Adelaide Hills Rally for choosing The Bend Motorsport Park for this year’s Super Special Stage!
Check out the amazing footage from Friday night rally event that took place under lights at the brand new Stadium Circuit. pic.twitter.com/W66Gf1kVLH
— The Bend Motorsport Park (@thebend_msp) September 24, 2018
What could be better than some old fashioned head-to-head racing on a Friday night under lights? Doing it at the newly constructed rally cross track at The Bend Motorsport Park – Australia’s newest world-class circuit.
The Bend’s inclusion into the schedule was an exciting addition as it made the event’s 38-strong field some of the first drivers to grace the facility’s new track.
Once the event began, the huge crowd were not disappointed, treated to some entertaining racing between Australia’s best rally drivers, which included tarmac and gravel sections and a spectacular water splash.
As the drivers put on a show for spectators across their two runs of the 1.67km stage, it was Harry Bates who narrowly edged out Eli Evans by just 0.1 of a second on his second pass to claim the quickest time of the night.
The frantic finish handed Bates the opening stage win and kick started his charge to the outright round win.
This memorable moment is a part of a special CAMS Australian Rally Championship Top-10 countdown series recapping an entertaining 2018 season.
