Three-time Australian Rally Championship winner, Eli Evans, will have a new co-driver alongside him in his Mini Cooper AP4 this year.
Following the retirement of his long-time partner and championship winner, Glen Weston, Evans was forced to find a new pace note caller for 2018.
He quickly came to the decision that experienced West Australian, Ben Searcy, was the man for the job.
Ben Searcy has secured the coveted ride alongside Eli Evans this year.
“Ben was a natural choice. Anyone he sits next to wins,” Evans told RallySport Magazine.
Evans and Searcy have competed together just once – at last year’s Akademos Rally in Victoria – however, that event was cut short with technical issues in the Mini.
They will also contest selected pacenoted state level events in a bid to get further experience together, and to further test the Mini.
Searcy sat beside Simon Evans in the 2016 Australian Rally Championship. Photo: Peter Whitten
This season they’ll contest the full Australian Rally Championship after a year of development in the crowd-pleasing Mini Cooper.
Evans jokingly says his goal for 2018 is “to win every stage of the ARC”, a feat that would guarantee him his fourth Australian Rally Championship title.
Searcy co-drove for Simon Evans in the 2015 and 2016 Australian Championships,
In 2017 he sat beside Brendan Reeves (taking victory at the Coromandel Rally in New Zealand), with Simon Evans at the Otago Rally and the Rally of the Heartland, and with Nathan Quinn in the Forest Rally, Rally SA and Rally Australia.
Ben Searcy (right) teamed up with Brendan Reeves to win the Coromandel Rally in New Zealand in 2017. Photo: Geoff Ridder
A subscription to RallySport Magazine give you access to all our rally
content from Australia, New Zealand and around the world – with news,
features and experiences nobody can match.
Our team are dedicated to providing an unrivalled experience which
shares, supports and promotes the sport of rallying.
By clicking "Subscribe Now" you agree to receive news, offers and updates on RallySport Magazine.
If you do not wish to receive marketing communications, you can update your preferences in My Account.
We will commence charging your payment method after the 7 day free trial expires.
If you cancel after expiry of your trial, cancellation will take effect from the end of your current monthly subscription period.
You will not be refunded any fees paid to RallySport Magazine unless otherwise set out in the terms and conditions.
Account Created!
Welcome to RallySport Magazine VIP Membership.
Get ready for your rally news experience to completely transform.
Start browsing news, exclusive VIP content or check out your account.