Eighty-two entries are now locked in for next week’s Rally of Canberra, including Guy Wilks, current British Rally Champion, who will drive a factory-prepared Honda Civic.
The rally of Canberra will be the largest forest rally seen in Canberra since the heady days of the famous Castrol International of the 1970sand this large field confirms the ACT event as one of Australia’s most significant rallies.
The Rally of Canberra is the second round of the prestigious FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), the second round of the Australian Rally Championship (ARC), and a round of the PCD Engineering ACT Rally Series. It's three rallies rolled into one, and features a a wide variety of world-class machinery. The rally starts in Garema Place in the heart of Canberra’s CBD at 6:30pm on Friday, May 9 with a ceremonial start.
This year marks the 21st running of the Rally of Canberra, making it the longest running international rally in Australia. Canberra is famous for rallying worldwide since the late 70’s when stars like Finland’s Ari Vatenen and Sweden's Stig Blomqvist competed, with special stages held on roads in what were yet-to-be-completed ACT suburbs.
Asia-Pacific teams are entered from Malaysia, India, Japan, New Caledonia and Australia with a record number of crews from overseas contesting the rally this year.
Canberra is the home to Neal Bates, three-times Australian Rally Champion and the current leader in the 2008 Australian Rally Championship, after a superb win in Western Australia last month. Rivalry will be fierce, however, in the Toyota Racing Development rally team, where Bates competes with his team-mate, Simon Evans. Evans is last year’s Championship winner and is always keen to "knock off the boss” in his similar S2000 Corolla.
ACT local businesses are also winners with teams and spectators flocking to the rally, drawn by the city’s proximity to the rally course and its world-class food, entertainment and accommodation. Canberra’s stunning scenery will be featured on Network Ten sports coverage and in press coverage around the world. Over 20 international journalists, along with national and local TV crews, will cover the event.
The action begins on Saturday morning with spectating in Kowen Forest, east of Canberra. Entry is opposite the Sutton Road Driver Training complex and directions are well signposted. Tickets are available at the gate.
For more information visit www.roc.com.au.
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