Former Toyota factory driver, Ben Barker, has taken a comprehensive victory in the 2017 Alpine Rally after three days of tough competition.
Driving a BMW 320i, Barker and co-driver Damien Long withstood a strong challenge from the Datsun Stanza of four-times Australian Rally Champion, Simon Evans, to finish a minute and 37 seconds in front.
A strong drive saw Luke Sytema third in his Ford Escort RS1800, with the Plymouth Fire Arrow of Kane Barrett in fourth place.
The top five was rounded out by Alan Friend in a Nissan Silvia.
Competitors experienced better conditions on the final day of the event, with five stages held across the day.
Barker won 8 of the rally’s 12 stages and was never seriously challenged for victory.
New Zealander Deane Buist brought his Ford Escort home in eighth place, two spots clear of
newly crowned Australian Rally Champion, Nathan Quinn in a Mazda RX2.
Bryan van Eck (Toyota), Clay Badenoch (Toyota), and Jack Wightman (Datsun) also took top 10 placings.
RallySport Magazine will have more coverage of the Alpine Rally this week.
See the Alpine Rally results HERE.
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