Bates and Taylor, who are enjoying their best start to a season since they won the last of their three championships in 1995, are pleased they have been able to string together a consistent run of results with the S2000 Corolla.Â
"We have had an incredibly good run," Bates said. "We are trying to focus on one event at a time, do the best we can and not think about the bigger picture of the championship."Â
This year's Rally SA features a substantial number of new stages, a move that will see the team's conduct an extra half day of pre-event reconnaissance.Â
"The S2000 Corolla was quick in SA last year, but this year is very different to last year as there are a lot of new stages," Bates said.Â
"Generally we have been fast in the Mount Crawford section of stages, but we don't have many of them this year so there is an element of the unknown."Â
Reigning Australian Rally Champions Simon and Sue Evans have made a speedy recovery from their high-speed crash at the last round in Queensland and are determined to win their first event for the season.Â
"The new stages will be interesting and to give us an extra half-day of recce they must be intense," Simon Evans said. "Traditionally the Adelaide hills are always tough; there are lots of trees and the road is hard to read with lots of blind crests, so it will be another tough rally."Â
Although the Evans duo won every round of the championship in 2007, they are currently sitting fifth in the title race and are still trying to secure their first win behind the wheel of an S2000 Corolla.Â
"I am really happy with my driving this year," Evans said. "Our speed really shows that we are the fastest and I think I have shown that no matter what car you put me in I will always drive it to the limit.Â
"Some years the luck runs with you and some years it doesn't, and before this season Sue and I had two fantastic years. I believe you make your own luck so we just have to get out there and work hard."Â
Rally SA starts with a return to the Angaston Oval Super Special Stage for Heat 1's opening two stages on Friday night, 25 July, before heading into the forest on the weekend for the remainder of Heat 1 and Heat 2.Â
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