It will be the first time that four of the top ten World Rally Championship drivers will have taken to the gravel stages around Perth. 19 year old Matthew Wilson, son of BP Ford team boss and former driver, comes here for the first time, as does his Argentine team mate Luis Perez Companc. Henning Solberg, brother of Petter, adds a new name to the entry list and Dani Sordo makes up the fourth driver to add Telstra Rally Australia to his list of driving conquests.
Telstra Rally Australia will also host Stobart VK M-Sport and OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Teams on Western Australian soil for the first time, giving Perth rally fans plenty of new cars to cheer on and new faces to look out for.
For the Kronos Total Citroen World Rally Team, Telstra Rally Australia will be the first time the team have nominated both ‘junior drivers’ Dani Sordo and Xevi Pons to score points manufacturer points. Also significant for the Kronos team is that it will be the first time that their Citroen world rally cars will run in red livery, having ended their partnership with Gauloise and decided to swap their blue paint scheme for the red that is most associated with the Citroen marque.
For Bozian Racing, who prepare the cars for OMV Peugeot, Telstra Rally Australia will be a significant record 101st rather than first, as the event boasts Bozian’s 100th and 101st entries into a World Rally Championship event.
Finally, Telstra Rally Australia will be a significant first for the car running last on the roads every day. Paul Williams, a Perth landscape gardener, will strap himself in for three days of gruelling rally driving after winning a competition to become a world rally driver at Telstra Rally Australia.
Telstra Rally Australia Clerk of Course Adrian Stafford said the new men and motors making their first appearance at the event is even more reason for fans to act fast and secure tickets to the final World Rally Championship event in Perth.
“This will be the last time Perth fans can easily see such exciting cars and the best drivers in the world,” said Stafford.
With tickets starting from as little as $20, discounts for children aged 15 years and under and free viewing opportunities including the Langley Park service park and the Rally Show autograph signing session at 4pm Thursday 26th October, fans have no excuse not to catch the action.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster or visit www.rallyaustralia.com.au