The final round of the four-state series will be one of the most competitive in history with teams from around Australia vying for the National Series crown.
This year there has been a different Crew victorious in each of the three rounds, and each of the Driver/Co-Driver champions of each round have also been different. This leaves the championship still wide open, with any of the Drivers, Co-Drivers or crews eligible for the Series to have a chance of National Series glory.
Entrants in the final round range from Victorian Ron Klein’s 1970 Holden Torana, to the Top 5 finishing Porsche GT2 of Greg Keene from South Australia. In fact there are over 20 different marques entered in the event from Ford to Ferrari!
Dave Pace from South Morang in Victoria owns a 2007 Ferrari F430, worth over $450,000. Dave explains why he has entered in the event. “I used to have dirt bikes and road bikes when I was young, and have had Ferrari’s for the past five years. I’m getting a little too old for the bikes now, and the Dutton Rally seemed like a perfect way to blow some steam off and use the car the way it was intended to be used!”
National Event Director Anthony Moss said that entrants like Dave are exactly what the series is geared up for.
"The Alphera Dutton Rally Series is all about enjoying your road car the way it was intended to be used. We organize the lot; all you need to do is bring your car and a helmet!” Moss says.
“I think that people are starting to realise that events like these are pretty much the only places where you can drive your car to the limit competitively, safely, and with minimal modifications. We design each event to be as fun and challenging as possible, but with the safety of the competitors in mind, and with a full complement of support and safety vehicles and personnel.”
Entry prices start at $2075 for a single driver entry, and $2790 for a crew entry. The event’s uniqueness is that in a team entry Driver and Co-Driver both pilot the car, driving each stage in a Drivers and Co-Drivers championship, and together as a team. Entry includes three days of competition, public liability insurance, rally merchandise, all meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner per day as well as gala dinners each evening and an awards presentation. Competitors also receive a 1hr DVD of the event, which is aired nationally on Channel Nine and Fox Sports.
The Alphera Dutton Series has origins as a serious tarmac rally event in 2000, but the Dutton Rally spans a 15 year history with its origins in Victoria.
The event developed into a National Series in 2005 and now boasts events not only in Victoria, but in Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.
The Victorian round will be contested from 31st August- 2nd September in various locations, beginning in regional Shepparton and concluding at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne on Sunday. Go to www.duttonrally.com for more information.
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