Australian Rally Championship front runners Harry Bates, Molly Taylor and Nathan Quinn will be going all out for victory at this weekend’s Lightforce Rally SA.
Bates currently leads the championship by three points, and is set to debut a new Toyota Yaris AP4, built by Neal Bates Motorsport.
The new car has recently been tested by the Canberra-based driver, and will take part in a Toyota corporate day on Friday before the rally commences on Saturday.
The team will be hoping for minimal teething issues and a smooth transition from the S2000 car he has campaigned for the past 18 months.
Placed second in the championship, reigning champion Molly Taylor will look to continue her strong form and keep the pressure on close rival, Bates.
Despite sharing dinner during the week of the rally, the close friends will be fierce rivals come Saturday and Sunday’s fast stages.
Early season title leader, Nathan Quinn, has a freshly built engine in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, and will be hoping this can propel him closer to the front paring ahead of his home event, Kennards Hire Rally Australia in November.
Currently 36 points behind the series leader, don’t be surprised if he has closed the gap come Sunday evening.
Tony Sullens, Craig Brooks and Andrew Penny, all in Subarus, will be following the leading trio closely, no doubt eyeing off a podium position.
John O’Dowd will again make the trek from Western Australia, this time in a newer specification Subaru than what he has previously campaigned.
Adam Kaplan is the favourite for the two-wheel drive win, with Lewis Bates one of his main challengers.
The event’s international drawcard, Frank Kelly, will run at the head of the field in his ‘screaming’ Ford Escort, alongside four other exciting classic rally cars.
Lightforce Rally SA will again be a tightly contested battle. Stay glued to RallySport Magazine for all your updates.
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