Currently they sit in second position in the NSW Hyundai Rally Series, just six points adrift of the lead. The 2008 series will be finalised on October 25 in the surrounding pine forest areas of Canberra.
Team Hyundai Rallye last competed in Canberra in 2006 where a flat tyre put them out of a podium position. Fourth was enough to secure both Driver and Navigator titles for the team.
Canberra is a difficult place to rally because of the lack of pine trees due the 2003 bush fires. The timing of the event can mean the weather is unpredictable, with 2006 seeing very hot conditions, not only for the crews competing, but for the officials out on the stages.
“The roads are hard on both the car and the crew. The nature of the pine forest roads mean that you are very busy on the handbrake, changing direction every couple of hundred metres, and Harv never gets time to rest calling the corners,” Gillett said.
“The competitive nature of the Excels also means you can’t back off and you need to make the most of the car’s momentum to maintain speed.”
With almost 40 Hyundai rally cars across the country, the series, while still in its infancy, is attracting a combination of old, current and, more importantly, new competitors to the sport.
Rallying, more then most forms of motorsport, has a fair amount of participation by women and it’s no different in the Hyundais. While NSW is yet to experience the girl invasion to the driver’s position, many NSW crews include women navigators. In Victoria, the girls are making an impression in the Hyundai Rally Series, with two all girl crews and a total of three female drivers.
On October 11, Hyundai Motor Company Australia hosted the first National Hyundai Rally Series meeting at the company’s head office at Homebush Bay. Delegates from Queensland, Victoria, ACT, South Australia, NSW and CAMS (Confederation of Australian Motorsport) attended the meeting to determine the future direction of the category, and plan for a national rally where the various state series look to come together and compete for a National title.
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