Can-Am driver Michael Guest has admitted that he needs to manage the awesome pace of his Maverick XDS Side-by-Side when he takes the start line at Coates Hire Rally Australia.
With Guest and fellow Can-Am driver Nathan Chivers debuting the latest Can-Am this season, featuring a 1-litre turbo-charged engine, they have proven to have the raw power to out pace their rivals from Polaris but so far reliability has been their Achilles heel.
“Our biggest issue this year has actually been something almost ridiculously simple,” explained Guest. “Basically we kept breaking the exhaust, but we’ve put a heap of development into it since Queensland and the solution is as simple as an extra bracket.”
“We know the new Can-Am has the speed, when we’ve had no issues we’ve taken stage wins. Then we’ve hit issues and that’s opened the door for Cody (Crocker) to get in for the win,” added Michael.
Despite Crocker taking two victories from two rounds, the pair start the next round in Coffs Harbour separated by just eight points, and with his proven speed this year Guest will start the event as the first Side-by-Side on the road.
“The two Heats we’ve won this year we won quite dominantly,” said Guest. “We know the pace is there, I just need to manage my pace when I get into the lead.”
Guest and the Can-Am team will put their improvements to the test in a pre-event workout prior to the start of this week’s local World Rally round. “Apart from the exhaust we’ve confident we’ve found some tweaks that will add more grip.”
“We’re learning all the time, and because of how tough the conditions are in Australia, and just how hard we run against the Polaris’, we’re always learning new limitations and where improvements need to be made,” said Guest.
“But I’m loving the turbo Maverick this year, it’s such great fun and really enjoyable to drive! Adding the turbo has just added that final bit of power that we really needed to get the best out of these things.”
Guest, Crocker, Nathan Chivers and Iain Hughes take the start for Coates Hire Rally Australia this Thursday afternoon in the centre of Coffs Harbour, before tackling three days of flat out sideways action.
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