Heartland’s long entry ready for flowing stages

Starting in the town of Burra, nestled almost two hours north of Adelaide, the rally will cover 18 special stages and more than 450 competitive kilometres.

It’s one of the longest rallies that takes place in Australia each season, and with the event building on its momentum from previous years, competitors have flocked from across the country to sample the South Australian roads.

One of the key features of the event is the long stages.

A 71-kilometre stage will run on three occasions during the rally weekend – twice on Saturday, including once at night, and then again on Sunday.

Leading the field, set to begin at 11.33am ACST for four Prologue stages on Friday morning, is 2017 Australian Rally Champion, Nathan Quinn.

Partnered by David Green, Quinn’s Mazda RX2 will be one of the favourites of the event, but its legs will be stretched on the fast roads.

Behind Quinn, it’s the beautiful Audi Quattro S1 E2 of Mal Keough and Pip Bennett as second seed in the event, followed by yet another four-wheel drive classic driven by Glenn Brinkman.

The Queenslander returns to the event for the second year running, but will be hoping for better fortunes after retirement struck last year.

Reigning winner, Tom Dermody, has brought a newer, faster Ford Escort than the one he was victorious in 12 months ago. It’s an ominous sign for his competitors.

Stuart Bowes will be trying to knock Dermody off his perch, hoping his Prologue speed that saw him at the top of the leaderboard 12 months ago will continue through the final two days of the event this time around.

Darkie Barr-Smith, another leading drover from 2023, welcomes Andrew Travis in the co-driver’s seat for the rally, in a recently purchased Holden Commodore.

Jeff Davis’s Porsche will also be a driver to watch, while Brad and Jamie Luff, fresh from their rally win at the Ada River Rally in Victoria, will return to try and get another podium.

The event is also a key part of the South Australian Rally Championship.

Guy Tyler’s Mitsubishi Magna is the leader in that field and will be looking for a solid start to his year.

While Tyler’s rebuilt, repainted two-wheel drive Magna will be fast, there will be significant speed coming from behind.

Darren Crozier is the leading four-wheel drive seed in the SARC, while Matt Selley and Rob Hunt will chase him in a duo of Mitsubishis.

The Shannons Rally of the Heartland runs all through Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the event concluding at approximately 4pm on Sunday, confirming the rally as a true long-distance challenge.