The Evans duo, who are works competitors for Team Toyota Racing Development, will be driving a Toyota Corolla Sportivo at the Toyota Rally SA to be held from August 18-20 in the Barossa Valley and Mount Crawford Forest on some of the finest rally roads in the country.
With four rounds of the six round 2006 NEC Australian Rally Championship having already been completed, Simon and Sue Evans lead the title chase with 143 points, while fellow Team Toyota Racing Development entrants Neal Bates and Coral Taylor are in second position (124 points), with the privateer Subaru team of Dean Herridge and Bill Hayes currently in third place on 116 points.
The winners of last year’s Toyota Rally SA, Scott Pedder and Glen Weston in their factory Mitsubishi are currently in fourth position in this year’s Championship with 93 points.
Also of interest in this year’s event will be the first SA appearance of the factory Pirtek Rally Team Ford driven by Michael Guest with co-driver David Green.
The Toyota Rally SA commences in the main street of Tanunda in the heart of the Barossa Valley on Friday evening (August 18) with the action continuing in the Mount Crawford Forest on Saturday August 19 and Sunday August 20.
Toyota Rally SA Chief Executive Andrew Daniels makes the claim that the South Australian event is the best in the country with good reason.
‘The Forties spectator area in Mount Crawford Forest provides spectacular rally viewing with the cars passing five times each day. There is also a giant Bytecraft Superscreen to capture all the action, bonfires, bars, food and merchandise outlets to ensure that fans can really enjoy the total rally experience’.
This year’s Toyota Rally SA will be conducted over 19 special stages with a total distance of 191.55 kilometres. The longest special stage will be “Eden High” over a distance of 20.75 kilometres.
Last year’s Toyota Rally SA set another national rally record level of attendance with 30,500 spectators.
Tickets to Toyota Rally SA are available from BASS on phone 131246, online at www.bass.net.au or at the gate at the Forties spectator area in Mount Crawford Forest.
Further details regarding Toyota Rally SA are available on the event’s website www.toyotarallysa.com.au