2024 Adelaide Hills Rally: what you need to know
- 12th September 2024, 11:54am
-
by Luke Whitten
- Photos by Wishart Media
Round five of the Australian Rally Championship moves to South Australia for a flat-out chase for maximum points.
The rally has moved from Tailem Bend to Mt Barker in the heart of the Adelaide Hills, meaning less transport kilometres and a more compact rally.
Weather conditions are cool in the Adelaide Hills, and other than a small chance of showers on Sunday, things are expected to stay dry for the entire weekend.
We’ve gathered all the information and links you need to know.
ENTRY
While Gippsland was the biggest entry of the season, Adelaide is the smallest.
It’s a shame to see, given the depth we’ve seen in the last few rounds, but it does give opportunities to some.
For Production Cup reining champion, Bodie Reading, it puts him in the box seat to get maximum points in an event that ended so painfully last season.
There’s chances for his rivals, too, with just a quartet of four-wheel drive turbocharged Production Cars on the entry list.
Josh Wiedman, Danny Traverso and Darren Crozier all have a chance at a great result.
At the top of the field, all the regular names are there, but the changes come in the cars.
Harry Bates is back in his GR Yaris AP4 as his Rally2 variant makes its way back from Japan, while repairs on one of the Rullo’s Hyundais means that Peter Rullo will be aboard a Skoda Fabia R5.
In the Subaru WRX Challenge, Glenn Brinkman and Gary Yeoans return, while Tim Hiles makes his debut in the car Tim Clark drove in Victoria.
Aside from the 23 ARC crews, there are 16 as part of the South Australian Rally Championship field, either cross-entered or in the separate state field.
STAGES
If there’s one thing you’ll hear all weekend is that these stages are fast!
Shire roads are the scene for this rally, and the wide, fast roads make for high speeds and close battles on the leaderboard.
Five stages are nearly identical to last year, while others have all been used previously on other iterations of the Adelaide Hills Rally.
The only new stage is Wattle Flat, which hasn’t been used since before 2018.
The rally’s Power Stage, where extra points are on offer, will take place on the 9.12km of Old Bull Creek.
Heat One: 8 stages, 83 competitive kilometres
Heat One: 10 stages, 85 competitive kilometres
SPECTATORS
To watch the action, your best bet is to download the Spectator Guide.
There are ample options for you to see the action live, while Pedders Rally Central at Mt Barker is the place to be to see the cars in all their spectacular detail while some of the country’s best mechanics work their magic to get them back on the stages.
Friday evening’s Rally Show is one not to miss. All cars will be on show in the heart of Mt Barker from 6pm onwards.
FOR THOSE AT HOME
RallySport Magazine will provide an in-depth update at the end of each rally day, while the Subaru Results Hub is the place for all results.
Broadcasts will be available on YouTube and 7plus of the day’s highlights, while videos will be available all over social media from the championship themselves, and leading teams.
2024 Australian Rally Championship Calendar
Round 1: Rally of Canberra – 5-7 April
Round 2: Forest Rally – 17-19 May
Round 3: Rally Queensland – 28-30 June
Round 4: Gippsland Rally – 9-11 August
Round 5: Adelaide Hills Rally – 13-15 September
Round 6: Rally Launceston – 22-24 November
