2007 CAMS Rally Development driver, Paul Batten, with co-driver Craig Jones, and Victorian all-girl team, Emma Cugley and Jo Robison, will head up Hyundai's Excel Rally Team for the Bega Valley Motors Rally.
Batten and Jones will upgrade from the single cam Excel in which they have won the first two rounds of the 2007 Victorian Excel Series, to a more powerful twin cam version for the event. Both cars have been prepared by the Kangan Batman TAFE in Melbourne.
Cugley and Robison will change from their usual pink Excel to the blue 2006 NSW championship winning factory car, last driven by former Australian Rally Champion, Ed Ordynski, at the recent Rally of Lithgow.
"Hyundai is committed to developing the skills of Australia's youth. We have been involved with the students of the Motorsport Course at Kangan Batman TAFE since late 2005, and our driver line up at Bega shows that we are interested in developing young rally drivers in what is Australia's best low budget one-make series," Team Manager, Mick Gillett said.
Hyundai have also been using the rally team to promote the skills and achievements of Hyundai dealerships. Fourth year apprentices have been joining the team on events and helping with service requirements at rallies over the last twelve months. They have not only kept the Hyundai-prepared cars on the road, but have helped privateer competitors as well.
Local Bega Hyundai dealer, Momsen Motors, is set to support the entire Excel field at Bega, opening up the dealership on the afternoon before the event for pre-event scrutineering and a sausage sizzle for competitors and crews.
The event itself, to be held on Sunday, June 10, is round 2 of the NSW Racebrakes Excel Rally Series, and round 3 of the Victorian Rally Drive Hyundai Series. It will also serve as the Hyundai 'State of Origin Challenge' between NSW and Victoria.Â
The Bega Valley Motors Rally will be held on Sunday, June 10.
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