Bates and Taylor crowned champions again

By winning Rally Tasmania they add to their trophy cabinet – one that’s already burgeoning with event and championship wins.

Bates’ win moves him to third all-time on the ARC wins tally and becomes the first back-to-back champion driver since Eli Evans some 11 years ago.

The drought for a back-to-back co-driver isn’t as long (Bill Hayes in 2017), but Taylor’s accumulation of titles makes her unquestionably the most successful co-driver of all time.

Her six titles eclipse Craig Vincent’s five and leaves her just one shy of Possum Bourne’s incredible seven ARC titles.

“It’s a bit amazing because people have asked all week ‘How do I feel about it,’ but I almost wasn’t game to talk about it,” she said.

“Anything can happen. It isn’t over until it’s over and now it’s very exciting.”

Bates, a student of the sport, understands the company he now sits in as a driver with three titles.

“Once you get into the three championships club, it's pretty exclusive. There's not that many in there, so I'm very, very proud to join them,” Bates told RallySport Magazine.

Bates joins Greg Carr, Colin Bond and Cody Crocker with three titles.