This year’s Scouts Rally SA, the final round of the 2015 East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship, will debut a vastly different course designed to delight spectators and competitors alike.
For competitors, the new route is more compact, reducing time spent transporting between stages, and maximising time spent in competitive stages. It introduces new tests, longer stages and more flowing council roads.
For spectators, these changes introduce new spectating opportunities, with the most accessible route for spectators in Scouts Rally SA’s history.
The highlight of the new course will be a new challenge for Australia’s best rally drivers – a 21 kilometer test at night through Mount Crawford Forest combining the best of the forest stages from previous editions of Scouts Rally SA.
The new course also features 9 all new spectator points, including a relocated Mount Crawford Forest spectator point – a staple of Scouts Rally SA since the event made it’s debut as the Coopers Pale Ale Rally SA back in 2001.
Clerk of Course Ivar Stanelis is enthusiastic that these changes will appeal.
“We had a good look at the route after last year’s event, and have redesigned the course to make best use of the available roads.
‘These are some of the best roads in the East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship, and have equally given spectators some of the best views they’ve ever had. October can’t come fast enough!”
The 15th anniversary also sees Scouts Rally SA with its latest ever date, becoming the final round of the East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship and South Australian Rally Championship. In 2015, Scouts Rally SA will be run over the weekend of 23, 24 and 25 October, which means for the first time, the championship winners will be crowned in South Australia.
For South Australian driver Henry Nott, currently tackling the Australian 4WD Rally Series, this couldn’t be better.
“We came very close to winning the 4WD series last year, and the chance to clinch the title in front of a home crowd at an event we won in 2014 is a great motivator,” Nott said.
In 2015, Scouts Rally SA will see five different categories competing for championship honours:
• East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship – the outright category for two wheel drive rally cars
• Australian 4WD Rally Series – for 4WD rally cars, including the Mitsubishi Lancers and Subaru WRXs so synonymous with rallying
• Classic Rally Challenge – featuring some of the best cars of rallying’s yesteryear
• South Australian Rally Championship – SA’s state championship, featuring some of South Australia’s most talented drivers
• Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge – the Polaris vs Can Am rivalry makes it’s second trip to South Australia
Winners of all categories will be crowned in South Australia in October, giving spectators a smorgasbord of entertainment.
With new spectator points, new technology being rolled out to keep spectators more informed than ever, and more family friendly options, Scouts Rally SA 2015 promises to be the best event yet!