This will be the first event that Dowel and Lee have contested since Rally Queensland in July, and the pair is eagerly looking forward to an event they finished second in last year.
The duo will test a new developmental gearbox in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, in the lead up to the final round of the Australian Rally Championship in November.
They won the Akademos Rally in 2007, and led the event until the final stage last year, when a punctured tyre cost them victory.
“The rally will give us a great opportunity for driving and pacenoting practice, as it’s been three months since our last event,” Dowel said.
“We have ensured that we are not registered for points in the Victorian Rally Championship, so as not to disadvantage any other competitors who are contesting the full series,” he added.
The team’s Lancer Evo IX has been fully refreshed since its last outing in Queensland.
Their main rivals for the Akademos Rally title will be Jesse Robison and Nathan Reeves, both in Subaru Impreza WRXs, and a trio of Mitsubishi Lancer Evos driven by Warren Lee, Craig Morris and Derek Reynolds.
The event will see competitors tackling 100 kilometres of special stages. Reconnaissance will take place on Saturday, with the rally on Sunday.
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
• Starts in Alexandra at 9:00am (cars arriving from 8am)
• 2 spectator points roughly 15km from Thornton - 10:30am to 4pm
• Service in Thornton from 11:30am
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