The Shamrock Haulage ARC 2WD Cup saw winners from two different entries claim the Driver and Co-driver prize.
Guy Tyler – 2WD Champion
It was a tight battle all season long in the Shamrock Haulage ARC 2WD Cup, but it was South Australia’s Guy Tyler who ultimately claimed top honours after a dominant three rounds.
In what turned out to be a story of quality over quantity, the South Australian Rally competed in four events across the calendar year, while his direct competitors in James Dimmock and Dean Ridge notched up more rallies throughout.
Tyler started the season as he finished – by topping the class in the Netier National Capital Rally and earning himself a ninth-place outright finish in the process.
After missing the next two rounds, Tyler’s form continued at his next appearance in Victoria as he claimed a 58-second 2WD victory at the Middle of Everywhere Rally over Dean Ridge, making it two-from-two heading into the final rounds of the 2022 season.
His home round in the Adelaide Hills played host to his first defeat of the season for Tyler, but he was able to hold his head up high with a well-deserved second-place finish and still in title contention ahead of the Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally.
An issue on the second stage during the season finale dampened any chance of taking victory at the rally, but Tyler had secured enough points in previous rounds to secure the Shamrock Haulage 2WD cup title.
Phillip Bonser – 2WD co-driver
Calling the notes for fellow New South Welshman Dean Ridge, Phillip Bonser claimed the Haulage ARC 2WD Cup co-driver’s title.
Bonser and Ridge had acquired a consistent run of points throughout the season, and while Ridge couldn’t do enough to best Tyler, Bonser’s points haul allowed him to stay ahead of Paul Bennett for the co-driver’s title.
Bonser helped navigate the Ikon Signs Citroen DS3 R3T to a second-place finish in the opening round of the season in Canberra, falling six minutes behind Tyler and Admiraal after 13 competitive stages.
He backed up this performance at his next appearance in the Shannons Rally Launceston with a second place and holding off Bennett across each heat to keep his nose in front of the championship standings.
The Middle of Everywhere Gippsland Rally marked a third straight second place finish after falling 58-seconds behind Tyler and Admiraal when an incident promoted them late in the weekend.
Whilst the run of second place finishes ended in Adelaide, a fourth-place finish extended his lead at the top of the standings, despite Bennett taking home the trophy.
Admiraal did not sit beside Tyler in this instance allowing the door to remain open heading into the season finale.
After four rounds of consistent runner-up finishes, it was joy at last for Bonser as he and Ridge claimed an emphatic three-minute victory at the Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally to all but secure the co-drivers title for 2022.
Click here for all the results from 2022.
Feature Photo: Epic Sports Photography
