The pairing won three of the four events they entered, finishing second in the other round, driving two different Group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions.
The event they missed was the Taree Rally, in which Baker was the Clerk of Course, and Yeomans drove the zero car.
Richard Opie from Realistic Car Rentals in Armidale owns the cars, which Garry Yeomans prepares. In return, Opie gives Yeomans the use of the cars in selected events.
The first round of the series was to be held at Wauchope, near Port Macquarie, but rain washed that event out, meaning that Taree became round one. The following rounds were held at Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, and again at Wauchope.
Second place in the series went to Steve Mitchell and Mick Rourke in a Subaru Impreza WRX. After a consistent season they finished just nine points behind the winners, and just a solitary point ahead of the Subaru Legacy RS Turbo of Peter Neal in third place.
Richard Opie, who alternated between the Lancers that Yeomans wasn’t driving, came home fourth in the series.
The first two-wheel drive car home was that of the fifth placed Adam and Grant Kennedy in a Chrysler Galant, with Daryl Gamack’s Toyota Celica sixth.
An impressive performance in the series came from young David Opie (son of Richard), who did two events in a Gemini after getting his driver’s licence. He was eighth overall in the series, and confirmed his talent by winning an autocross at the Nabiac track (with 45 starters), driving his father’s Lancer Evo 4.
The Northern NSW Rally Series was again a success, and eager competitors are already planning for the 2007 rally season.
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