The Swisse Renault Sport Rally Team crew of driver Scott Pedder and co-driver Dale Moscatt have made a scintillating debut in the 2013 East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship, finishing a fine second outright at round one, the 2013 National Capital Rally held around Canberra last weekend.
Driving a brand new Renault Clio built to international FIA R3 specifications by Renault Sport in France, Pedder and Moscatt shocked many by taking outright honours in Saturday’s heat one over more highly modified G2 vehicles including 2012 champions Eli Evans and Glen weston in their Honda Jazz. A series of issues on Sunday, including a flat tyre on the second last stage of the day, meant that the crew had to settle for second overall for the event.
Team driver and Principal, Scott Pedder, was ecstatic with the result, especially considering it was the first event for the team and car and Pedder had spent 31 months out of competition following a high speed accident in Scouts Rally SA in 2010. It was also the first time Pedder has driven a front wheel drive car in competition.
“What a sensational start. The competition this year is very strong and to come out of the box like we did is testament to both a lot of hard work in the lead up from our team and to the work that Renault Sport have done on the development of these cars since 2008.
"I have been driving rally cars now for 20 years but this would have to be the most fun I have ever had in a car. The Clio R3 is easily the most exciting car I have ever driven and I am still amazed at just how strong they are and how late you can brake and push them through corners,” Pedder said.
Attention now turns to round two of the championship with the traditional QUIT Forest Rally held in and around the West Australian township of Busselton and Pedder, the 2010 winner of this event, had a message to send to his competition.
“The scary thing is that we are already on the pace, probably three events before anyone except us thought we would, and we have really only just started to get a handle on the cars and what they can do. We are certainly not getting ahead of ourselves here but I would suggest that some teams will need to have a busy few weeks to catch us in WA.”
The second Renault Sport entry of Tom Wilde and Bill Hayes recorded a fine fifth at the National Capital Rally in an identical Clio R3 and look forward to their home event in WA. Wilde is a co-owner of his family’s cheese farm which is within minutes of the stages around Nannup. Wilde also was the winner of the 2012 QUIT Forest Rally.
Follow the team’s facebook page for all team information and go to www.rally.com.au for all news, videos and photos from the 2013 East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship.
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