After a few years out of the game, Jack Monkhouse will look at making a return to the RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship in 2022 as part of the ARC Classic Cup.
The South Australian has enjoyed many years in the ARC throughout his career but had to take a backseat recently due to being unable to put together a proper budget to compete at the national level.
However, after working on his Datsun for the past five years and with a successful stint in last year’s Adelaide Rally (tarmac), Monkhouse is finally ready to return to the ARC and will run his iconic car in the Classic Cup.
Unfortunately, he is unable to attend every round, but has expressed interest to compete in a minimum of four rounds with some more likely than others.
“I have always had a good history with the ARC and won a few classic rounds over the years, so I am excited to come back,” Monkhouse said.
“It’s been a while since I competed in the ARC with Rally Australia in 2018 being my last. The Datsun has since had some major makeovers and is feeling fast.
“I won’t be able to do every round and unfortunately can’t make it to Canberra, but I am hopeful of getting to Queensland and Victoria later in the year and I should be in Adelaide and Coffs Coast too.
“Winning a trophy doesn’t really do it for me and I am not going to lose sleep if I don’t win the Cup, I just enjoy rallying, so hopefully I can get to few rounds.
“At the end of the day, I am focused on doing less events, but better ones, which is why I want to do the ARC.”
Monkhouse’s last competitive event was the 2021 Adelaide Rally where he made his official debut on tarmac.
Behind the wheel of the Datsun, he enjoyed a solid weekend and finished fourth outright – beating many of the experienced tarmac drivers on multiple stages.
Despite his obvious talent – he admits that it was only a temporary appearance and his heart truly is with rally.
“Tarmac was different and it was great to do those stages, especially after we upset a few of the more experienced tarmac people in our “dirty old Datsun”,” Monkhouse added.
“It just showed what a reasonable gravel car could do on tarmac, so we’re happy.
“Even though I enjoyed running on tarmac as it’s fun and fast, gravel rally is me inside and out – you can’t replace it. I just love sliding on the gravel, it seems out of control, even though you have complete control of it in the car.”
