While entries have not yet closed, it’s official that the 2015 Quit Forest Rally will boast it’s most impressive entry list in recent years with four past Australian Rally Champions returning to contest the event after their respective hiatus from the Championship.
Eli Evans (2012, 2013), Justin Dowel (2011), Simon Evans (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010), and Neal Bates (1993, 1994, 1995, 2008) will be looking to take honours in the opening round of the 2015 East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship (ARC) season when the event kicks off on 27 March.
Simon Evans will drive the Honda Civic previously driven by Eli Evans.The event will also see the return of more key players in Australian rallying with Mark Pedder, Darren Windus and Molly Taylor contesting the event.
“The ARC really hasn’t seen a field this strong since 2010 and I for one can’t wait to see the action unfold out in the forest,” said Quit Forest Rally Event Director Ross Tapper.
“While these drivers are competing over various different classes they will all be out on the same roads and I know they will all be looking to take the fastest overall time for the weekend regardless. It’s going to be one hell of a fight!”
Eli Evans and his co-driver Glen Weston will be contesting the 2WD class as part of Team Citroen Australia driving, for the first time in competition, a Citroen DS3.
“I really missed the Quit Forest Rally last year as it is the most rewarding event on the calendar,” Eli Evans said. “It is always closely fought and the conditions are the most challenging of any ARC round so I am really looking forward to taking the Citroen DS3 for it’s first outing on those roads,” he continued.
Crowd favourite Simon Evans will be contesting the event for the first time since 2010 and will do so for the first time behind the wheel of a 2WD car, a Honda Civic Type R previously run by his brother Eli.
Molly Taylor, who has spent the past five years competing exclusively in Europe will be behind the wheel of last year’s 2WD championship winning car, the Renault Clio G2.
Pedder, Windus and Dowel will contest the 4WD National Rally Championship class of the event.
“I didn’t make it to WA last year as I was competing in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship,” Pedder said. “It’s always my favourite event of the year so I am looking forward to coming back and can’t wait to get out on the roads in my new Peugeot 208.”
Bates, who has missed the event for the past few years due to a clash with Rally Otago in New Zealand, will be leading the charge in the Classic field.
The 2015 Quit Forest Rally will be the 16th running of the event in the Busselton region. The event will be the second round of the ECB Australian Rally Championship, as well as the opening rounds of the West Australian Rally Championship and the West Australian Clubman Cup and is set to attract the nation’s best rally, side-by-side and moto competitors.
Entries for the event close on: 5 March 2015
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