Spectators will be in for a treat as four time Australian Rally Champions, Simon and Sue Evans will head the field, but not in the four wheel drive turbo car we have become accustomed to seeing them in, but the V8 HQ that Simon used in the 2001 Alpine. The car has undergone a ground up rebuild and the Akademos will be its debut with the champs sliding through the popular flowing forests between Thornton and Eildon.
Challenging his older siblings in the HQ will be ARC regulars Eli Evans in the Honda Civic Type R, along with co-driver Glen Weston. Eli is currently in 2nd place in the Australian 2WD Championship after Rally Australia in Coffs Harbour and will be using the event to further test and develop the Honda.
Current leaders of the EXEDY VRC, Steve Kenway and Lauren Palmer will be keen to increase their championship lead at Akademos in their Subaru WRX STi; however, Warren Lee and David Lethlean have recently announced the addition of MotorUP as their major sponsor of their Mitsubishi EVO 9 and will be keen to take the championship lead back from Kenway and Palmer.
Currently third placed in the points, Wayne Stewart and Lucas Zinsstag have just acquired the 2010 Championship winning car of Nathan Reeves and will be keen to take advantage of their updated Subaru for the remainder of the season.
Brothers Stephen and Glen Raymond will also be looking to improve on their last round result in their Group N(P) Corolla, as will the father and daughter pairing of Craig and Carrie Morris.
The EXEDY 2WD Championship is also a close affair coming into the Akademos with the top three places split by just 4 points. Newcomers Alan Roe and Ray Farrell have a slender 3 point lead over Rob Davis and Aiden O’Halloran in their Nissan Sunny Gti, while Rowan Woollard and Adam Wright are just 1 point further back in 3rd. Â
Brian Semmens and Dan Parry are expected to try and make a charge to regain the 2WD lead, and make up their unfinished business of finishing runners up in the 2010 2WD Championship.
Past ARC Champions Geoff Portman and Ross Runnalls will also debut their Ford Escort MK II at the Akademos in preparation for the upcoming Alpine Rally in November. The Walker stable of Escorts will also be back in what is an increasingly large number of classic cars running as part of the EXEDY VRC.
Another crowd favourite, the V8 Commodore ute of Gary Berrie and Rod McEwen will also be back, turning on the sideways action.
The BATRONIC Hyundai Excel Rally Series will again see the brother team of Steven and Brent Mackenzie expected to lead the charge with Andrew Thompson and Simon Barton-Ancliff, as well as Jonathon Byrnes and Stuart Diggins also expected to be on the pace. Tony and Nikki Moore also return to the VRC from the ARC this round and will be looking to push the Excel field all the way.
One impressive spectator point will be used twice on Sunday. Spectators can pick up spectator guides from the Alexandra Race Club or Thornton Football Oval or download from www.vicrally.com.au and click on the Akademos link.
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