Competing in the Tasmanian Tarmac Challenge, Guest was confident of a good result in his team’s home event, and started the rally well, taking the fourth fastest time on the opening stage of Heat 1.
The result came despite a gearbox problem that saw him lose second and fifth gears. Luckily he could return to service and have a new transmission installed. But then a rear differential problem also hampered his efforts, and he subsequently missed three of the remaining four stages.
With the car repaired, he returned to complete the day’s final test, hoping to test the car’s fitness in preparation for tomorrow’s second heat.
Although he finished last of the ARC regulars, the Lake Macquarie (NSW) driver and his co-driver, David Green, remain philosophical ahead of day two.
“We lost first and second gear in the first Hellyer Gorge stage this morning, but surprisingly we were still fourth quickest,” Guest said at the end of a torrid day.
“When the new gearbox was put in the rear diff ratio was then wrong, so that created more work for the service, and as a result we missed a few stages.
“It’s been a really frustrating day, but tomorrow’s another day and we’ll be pushing hard from the outset. I hope that it’s wet, but even if it’s dry we should be okay, because our time on the last stage, in dry conditions, was quite good.”
Conditions over today’s six stages were generally slippery, with intermittent rain making tyre selection a real challenge for crews. Tomorrow’s weather forecast is for further rain, with another five stages covering 88 competitive kilometres.
Tasmanian Tarmac Challenge – Heat 1
Results – ARC
1. Bates/C Taylor, Toyota TRD Corolla S2000, 46 minutes 14.5 seconds
2. Lowndes/C Randell, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, +35.1 secs
3. Evans/S Evans, Toyota TRD Corolla S2000, +56.7 secs
4. Kaitler/J Allen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6, +1:36.0
5. G Raymond/M Raymond, Toyota Corolla Sportivo, +1:48.3
6. D Dunlop/J Dunlop, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7, +2;50.8
7. M Taylor/S Stevens, Mitsubishi Mirage RS, +7:00.8
8. B Cullen/M Cullen, Toyota Levin, +8:42.4
9. M Butcher/L Read White, Subaru Impreza WRX, +20:04.0
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