Batten continues winning form at Akademos

Team Hyundai Rally continued to show a clean set of heels at the Akademos Rally on Saturday, October 14.

The rally, based near Alexandra (Vic), saw the Victorian based team of Paul Batten and new stand in co-driver  Adam Wright, continue the team’s success in the 2007 Rallydrive Hyundai Rally Series.  Team Hyundai were first  Hyundai home in the Hyundai series, 14th outright in the 40 car field, 1st in class P2 (1300 to 1600cc) and 2nd Two wheel drive.      

The Kangan Batman TAFE-prepared Accent continued its winning formula in the Championship with fivewins  from five starts and now leads the series by 20 points.    While Batten can’t be beaten in the championship, the series has not yet been decided.  

With one round left in December, Batten needs to at least finish the rally and score a minimum of one point to secure the title from Emma Cugley.  With regular co-driver Craig Jones also missing the Akademos, the co-drivers championship is still very  much alive.     

Batten and Jones also compete in the Australian Rally Championship in a privately entered WRX.  At the last round at Forster (NSW), the Paul Batten Racing Team had a large rollover requiring the team to re-shell the car.  Jones opted to stay in Gosford and continue the rebuild process which is a race against time for the Rally of  Melbourne on November 10 & 11.      

Jones,  and Emma Cugley’s co -driver Jo Robison, are currently tied on 80 points in the co-drivers championship,  meaning that Team Hyundai will need to finish in a higher position than the all girl team for Jones to clinch the title.

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