Leigh Hynes and Stuart Percival have won round three of the Western Australian Rally Championship in their DMS Shock Absorber-supported Subaru Impreza. The Experts Cup Rally was based at the south west town of Collie and used the magnificent roads around Wellington Dam.
Hynes leapt out of the blocks in the opening 16 kilometre stage to take a commanding 25 second lead over Alex Stone, with Toby Heyring in an Impreza a further four seconds back. This stage used one of the fastest roads in the championship with a four kilometre stretch spent mostly over 180km/h, and then into perhaps the most technical twisty road in the championship, which has claimed many cars in the past.
Stage two was another very fast one of 10 kilometres, which again saw Hynes and Percival quickest with a time 15 seconds ahead of Stone, with Dennis Dunlop another four seconds back.
Going into the first service, Hynes held a massive 40 second lead over Stone in second place.
At service Hynes put his improved pace down to the new five-way DMS Shock Absorbers and a new set-up with the Modena differentials.
“These new shocks just make the car so easy to drive,” Hynes said. “My concentration and commitment to the notes has increased because of the new set-up, and the times are there to prove it.”
The next group of stages saw the Hynes and Percival duo increase their lead to 1 minute 14 seconds. In the final three stages Hynes and Percival put strategy into play, backing off considerably due to their comfortable lead.
“That was a very difficult three stages,” said Percival. “I was having flashbacks of heat one of the Forest Rally when we went out whilst running third in the ARC. It’s hard to know how much to slow down, but still keep a rhythm going and not make any mistakes. We had a spin and an overshoot that wouldn’t have happened if we were pushing as hard as we were earlier in the event.”
After 108 competitive kilometres, Hynes and Percival took the win by a comfortable 40 seconds over Stone in second, Dunlop in third and Heyring coming home in fourth and first Group N.
With three rounds complete, the WA Rally Championship remains close. Leading the championship is Heyring on 100 points, Hynes on 89, Stone on 74 and Thomas on 58. The battle for the championship continues with round four being held in and around the Donnelly River area on September 20.
More results and points can be seen at www.duetime.com.au
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