The forests around Nannup and a tarmac super stage in Busselton will set the scene for some spectacular driving during three action-packed days of rallying.
A highlight of the rally will be the Busselton Toyota Super Stage around Barnard Park on the Busselton foreshore. In 2007 the Super Stage will be free for spectators and has been changed to make it easier for the spectators to get closer to the action, the cars and the drivers.
The event forms part of the Australian, West Australian and Clubman Championships and coincides with the WA Car Club’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
Organisers have not only put on the championship action for spectators, but have added the Shannons Busselton Tarmac Rally as an additional event on the Saturday to give spectators a chance to get close to the action.
Toyota team-mates and matrimonial partners, Simon and Sue Evans, will be looking to keep a firm hold on their 2005 title - but they will have their work cut out for them this year with a host of other teams chaffing at the bit for honours.
While the elite line-up won’t be finalised until a couple of weeks out from the event, some big names in rallying have already registered their intent to take on the two courses which beg the best of each team’s skills and versatility.
Among those who will tackle the 2007 Quit Forest Rally will be the Toyota team of Neal Bates and Coral Taylor, who will return to Nannup and Busselton with their sights set on taking out the WA campaign. Bates and Taylor finished second to the Evans duo by the narrowest of margins in 2006, so they will be keen to reverse that order.
The Ford Pirtek Rally Team has also indicated they will be running a two car team for Michael Guest and Darren Windus. They will be running Ford Fiestas which have been modified to four-wheel drive specification.
Each year the event draws more than 200 interstate visitors and hundreds of intrastate visitors to the south west of WA, as well as nation-wide media exposure.
The rally attracts about 50 leading crews Australia-wide, with 2007 expected to be bigger and better than ever with a strong focus by organisers on the sheer adrenaline of the trackside action.
For the 7th year rally headquarters will be at the Bayview Geographe Resort. The resort boasts ample parking and will also be the location of the presentation night on Sunday, April 29.
Crews, officials or members of the public who wish to be part of the action can contact the event director, Ross Tapper, on (08) 95232214 or 0418 950022. He can also be contact via rosstapper@bigpond.com
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