A clash with the end of the summer school holidays has prompted organisers of the Australian Tarmac Rally Championship to change the dates for one event next year.
The ATRC will be made up of four events in 2015 and was to kick off with the Lake Mountain Sprint in Victoria’s high country in late January. However the event will now run over the weekend of March 21-22 with scrutineering at nearby Marysville on Friday, March 20.
First round for the 2015 series will be the Mt Baw Baw Sprint (February 21-22). After the summer/early autumn events, keen competitors will have to wait until the weekend of October 3-4 for their next fix (Great Tarmac Rally) before the 2015 ‘grand final’ (Snowy River Sprint) on December 5-6 next year. Interested competitors who sign up now for the four events will only pay $5400.
The Mountain Motorsports group, which runs the series, is also offering a ‘toe-in-the-water’ one-day trial event in October, for those who have competition cars and have not yet competed in a tarmac rally, or who would like to get a feel for the ATRC before making a full commitment.
The ‘Marysville Muster’ on Sunday, October 25, will provide entrants with 80km of timed competition on closed roads, priced at just $200. Scrutineering will be at Marysville on Saturday, October 26.
The Marysville Muster and all the ATRC events are open to modern (modified), classic (pre-1982) and showroom-spec vehicles which meet tarmac rally specifications (full rollcage etc).
Aside from the outright title, there are individual honours up for grabs in all three categories. Competing crews must wear full racesuits and helmets and be licensed by the Australian Auto Sport Alliance (AASA). There is also a lower-priced touring option available at all events except the Muster.
This year’s outright Australian Tarmac Rally Championship crown went to Danny Traverso and Bernie Webb in a 2005 Mitsubishi Evo IX. The classic crown was won by brothers Robin and Peter Lowe in a 1971 Datsun 240Z. The 2WD category title went to Charlie Nott and Roger Harrison (1998 TVR Chimaera) while showroom honours went to Clinton Arentz and Dale Moscatt in a 2009 Mitsubishi Evo X.
Further information on next year’s events is available from event director Peter Washington (0418 337 955) or the website: http://www.australiantarmacrally.com/