Pedder, who returned to the Australian Rally Championship (ARC) following several seasons in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, sent a message in the opening round of the season last weekend, winning all three legs of Rally Tasmania.
“We cannot wait to get to the Quit Forest Rally. Ross Tapper and his great team run a world-class event and it has consistently been one of the best in the championship for many years,” Pedder said.
“The team and I are confident we can repeat our Tasmanian result, however the other teams will have an advantage as I have not driven the Quit Forest Rally since 2006.”
Crowd favourites Simon and Sue Evans finished runner up in Tasmania and will be favoured in the first gravel round of the Championship.
Seeking their fourth national championship the Evans’ will take to the marble like roads of the Nannup Forest in a Subaru Impreza WRX Sti following victories in a Toyota (2006,2007) and Mitsubishi (2009).
Justin Dowel and Matt Lee finished third in Tasmania, standing on the ARC podium for the first time, and will be looking to back up their performance with another strong finish at the Quit Forest Rally.
Defending Quit Forest Rally Champions and last year’s ARC runner-ups, Glen and Matt Raymond, will need to bounce back from a disappointing start to the year but should be a big threat for Pedder and Evans.
Eli Evans and Glen Weston, behind the wheel of a 1600cc front-wheel drive Honda Civic Type R, finished Tasmania in a strong position taking third in the final leg despite tyre and handling issues dogging them across the weekend.
Evans and Weston will face a tough task in Western Australia if they are to steer their Honda to its first podium finish on Australian soil.
West Australians Leigh Hynes / Stuart Percival and Roman Watkins / Toni Feaver will be heading-up the local charge, looking to gain points on their home event before taking on the remainder of the Australian Rally Championship.
Entries for the 2010 Quit Forest Rally are now open with forms and information available for download on www.rally.com.au
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