The event is scheduled to run fully in daylight.
“This year the event will feature a 0730 start, which means all competitors in a 60 car field will complete the special stages before darkness,” said Tom Snooks, Clerk of Course, when releasing details of the rally planning recently.
“We have set the event to take in the northern regions of Victoria and this has allowed us to include two magnificent shire roads which twist and turn for some 30 kilometres near Genoa.
“Included in our planning is the use of The Snake Track (18 kilometres) shire road as we are hopeful of getting permission to use this road near Kiah in New South Wales. If we don’t we have an excellent forestry stage to replace it.”
This year the course includes three stages never used before, and previous stages have been re-arranged to provide a competitive event over the smoothest roads yet selected from the rally’s region. There are no repeat stages and no double use of roads other than one short section of five kilometres. The lengths vary from 13 to 30 kilometres – the final length selection being 13, 14, 15, 17 (x2), 20, 22, 24, 30 kilometres. These represent 55% of the overall event distance.
The Victorian Championship will be conducted in two heats, one of 90 kilometres and a second over 100 kilometres, and the Short Course for non-championship crews will cover 270 kilometres with 140 (53%) being competitive.
Servicing and refuelling will take place at two locations, the Edrom Road service park twice and once at Genoa.
Four spectator viewing areas have been established for this year, and three of them are within 13 km of the Edrom Road service park, allowing service crews opportunities to see their crews in action and be back at the service park for the next visit.
Entry fees will be the same as 2010 and 2011, being $575 for the long course and $355 for the short course.
Eden, with good accommodation available, provides an opportunity for a family break, or a gathering of mates of like soul, over the long weekend. Enquiries on accommodation can be made to the Eden Information Centre at info@tourism.com.au, or by telephone on 02 6496 1953.
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