Mark and his co-driver Simon Ellis (Carrie Morris will take over the duties after Tasmania) will be contesting the Premier League in the ARC, a category designed to give competitors the opportunity to compete on the main stage without having the expense of entering the whole six rounds of the championship.
“I needed a new challenge this year, and the chance to do some new events, especially the tarmac in Tasmania was a real draw card for me,” Mark said.
He will be entering his 2005 Spec C WRX STI in three rounds this year, with the hope of competing in more in years to come. The three events he will be competing in are Rally Tasmania, Rally South Australia, and the last round of the Championship, the newly re-appointed Rally Victoria.
Mark will also compete in selected Victorian events between the ARC rounds so as to gain as much time in the car as he can.
“I’ve been driving since 1990, when my first rally car was a 1972 Volvo 140 competing in the Western region trials around Victoria. It wasn’t until the mid 90s that I entered my first State championship round and ended up doing the whole season. I had upgraded from the ‘140’ to a ‘240 turbo’. It was a great year for me as I won the novice award, equal first with Cody Crocker. It’s just taken me a little longer to reach the top, unlike Cody,” he joked.
Loyal sponsors Ballarat Bolts and Fasteners, Hobson Engineering, Albins Off Road, Sika Australia and Bordo Cutting Tools are supporting his campaign.
“My sponsors are just fantastic they have been with me for a long time and I am forever grateful to them. Without their support I wouldn’t be able to compete in the best sport in the world.”
Photo: Nathan Hubble
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