Ian Menzies has taken a strong win in the opening round of the Queensland Rally Championship – an event that saw an extraordinary rate of attrition.
Driving a Lancer Evo 9, Menzies won by over two and a half minutes from a trio of rear-wheel drive classics, headed by Stewart Reid's Ford Escort RS1800.
Reid was half a minute ahead of Clay Badenoch's Toyota Celica, while Tom Dermody grabbed fourth in another Escort.
Richard Galley upheld four-wheel drive honours, bringing his Lancer Evo 8 home in fifth.
Leading retirements included Glenn Brinkman and Tristan Carrigan in Lancers, Erik Johnsson in a Subaru WRX, and Marius Swart in his VW Polo S2000.
A full report on the Hinterland Rally will follow, once the results become official.
Stewart Reid pushed hard all day and was rewarded with second place in his Escort. Photo: Scott Coleman
