Warragul rally crew of Glen and Matt Raymond have won Rally Victoria, the final round of the Australian Rally Championship on the weekend.
With nearly 70 entrants, the rally was held from Lardner Park and around the gravel roads of Noojee. The local lads driving their Raymond Partners Accountants Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 took victory by over 40 seconds.
Raymond took the lead on the first stage, and kept the pressure on for the rest of the event.
“We drove to a plan this rally,” said driver Glen Raymond. “We knew if we could apply the pressure but keep our nose clean it would pay off. It was tight competition at the top, but our plan worked and we came out with a healthy lead.
“We are so stoked to win our local rally. The rally conditions were tough with rain, mud and extreme fog. To finish was an achievement, let alone to win. To say we are excited is an understatement!”
The Raymond team presents a unique package in the Australian Rally Championship. With a flood of teams with big budgets and paid team mechanics, their team is made up of family and friends supporting Glen and Matt to the front of the field.
The team is even more proud of their achievements after building the car themselves in the family shed over the summer break.
“We are lucky to have a lot of local support,” stated navigator Matt Raymond. “We appreciate the support we get from the community and to reward them with a victory in our home town makes it that much sweeter.”
Despite the great result, the future is looking bleak for the promising young rally team. Without a major sponsor, Raymond will not be competing in the 2011 Australian Rally Championship.
Photo: Peter Whitten
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