Bates’ 2016 ARC campaign uncertain

Harry Bates’ stellar performance in the Toyota Super 2000 at Scouts Rally SA was one of the stand out performances of the season, let alone the event. Yet despite the famous surname, Bates says he has a long way to go before he can confirm his plans for the 2016 season.

“We’d love to be in the ARC next year in the S2000 car, for sure. Having had that taste of it in South Australia just makes you hungrier for more,” Bates said.
 
“We’ve proven that we can be a competitive package and could play a part in the title fight, so definitely I want to be there. Hopefully we can find the support to make that happen because I’d love to continue driving the S2000.”
 
Bates’ performance during Scouts Rally SA, on his debut at the wheel of the S2000, was nothing short of spectacular, regularly challenging far more experienced veterans of the category in Mick Patton, Marcus Walkem and Mark Pedder.
 
In the end he scored seven stage wins, took the Heat win on the Sunday and secured second outright on the 4WD podium behind Walkem. But rallying is expensive and success on the track rarely, if ever, equates to a forthcoming budget.
 
“It all comes down to finding a budget to compete,” Bates added. “Rallying is definitely an expensive sport, and the faster the car, the faster the bills seems to add up, so standing here right now, we do need to find the dollars to run the whole year if that’s what we end up doing.”
 
“Logistically it’s going to be a big year next year for Neal Bates Motorsport with Toyota’s one-make 86 (circuit racing) series starting, so we need to look at all these factors before we can really decide what’s achievable or not for me.”
 
Bates said he’s confident of at least making the opening round of the year in Western Australia, the Quit Forest Rally.
 
“We’d like to be at the first round, and if we can get there and get a strong result off the bat, like we did in South Australia, then that’d really give us the best chance to doing the full season.”

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