Best ever result for GTi Motorsport

The Safari Rally, held on Sunday, October 21, was the final round in the WA Rally Championship for 2007 and round 5 of the Clubman Rally Series. The GTi Motorsport Team was well represented with Justin Kinnear and Adam Pearson in the Mitsubishi EVO 7, Mark Cameron and Ian DeBoer in the very quick Suzuki GTi and representing the Team in the Clubman Cup, Tim Williams and Paul McGriskin in the second Suzuki GTi.

Recce was held on Saturday and it was apparent right from the start that this was going to be a tough rally. The ex-Rally Australia roads had suffered over winter and some stages were very rutted well before the event started. There was plenty of discussion between competitors on how to tackle certain sections.

With 45 cars due to start, a spectator location close to the service park gave the rest of the crew a chance to go out and watch some of the rally. The spot was during the very first stage and when a number of cars failed to make it, and a competitor ran into a tree in front of all the spectators, it was certainly a sign of things to come. What followed was a number of a cars crashing out on various stages and a number of others breaking down during the remainder of the rally.

While all this was happening, the EVO 7 of Kinnear/Pearson opted for a cautious and calculated rally, going fast where they could and taking it a little easier when the going got rough. The car performed faultlessly, with only a change of tyres necessary.

The Suzuki GTi of Cameron/DeBoer on the other hand, was playing a different game. Mark was on maximum attack, knowing that he had to push hard right from the start to gain maximum points in the Clubman Series and had his eye on the 2WD State Trophy. With his main rival coming to grief in the early stages, he couldn’t afford to relax as there were plenty of top 2WD’s putting in some very good times.

After three services and 160km competitive, the results were in. The EVO 7 of Kinnear/Pearson achieved their career best result with a 4^th outright, and also claiming their best ever finish was the Suzuki GTi of Cameron/DeBoer, finishing 6^th outright and 1st 2WD. It has been a long time in WA since a 2WD has featured this high up in the finishing order.

The second Suzuki GTi of Williams and McGriskin also had an uneventful run and finished a creditable 4^th in the Clubman Cub section.

GTi Motorsport is supported by Shell Racing Solutions, CTI Taxi Trucks, Transtor, Major Motors Isuzu, Howard Porters, MARC Environmental Solutions, Suzukishop, RY Form Doors, Eager Beavers and Ralliart.