Nathan Quinn and co-driver Bruce Tyler have taken out the inaugural Rally New England at Glen Innes, despite having an off in the latter stages and losing twenty seconds.
Quinn, in his immaculately prepared Mitsubishi Evo IX, finished just under a minute ahead of Peter Roberts and co-driver Andrew Crowley in the opening round of the 2015 NSW Rally Championship. Third place was tied between Chris Giddins/Damian Grahame in an Evo VI and Mal Keogh/Pip Bennet in the superb looking Audi Quattro.
The event organisers put on an amazing rally over some really fast and free flowing local roads throughout the picturesque New England countryside. Not that too many competitors had time to take in the spectacular scenery!
Nathan Quinn and co-driver Bruce Tyler have taken out the inaugural Rally New England at Glen Innes, despite having an off in the latter stages and losing twenty seconds. Quinn, in his immaculately prepared Mitsubishi Evo IX, finished just under a minute ahead of Peter Roberts and co-driver Andrew Crowley in the opening round of the 2015 NSW Rally Championship. Third place was tied between Chris Giddins/Damian Grahame in an Evo VI and Mal Keogh/Pip Bennet in the superb looking Audi Quattro.
The event organisers put on an amazing rally over some really fast and free flowing local roads throughout the picturesque New England countryside. Not that too many competitors had time to take in the spectacular scenery!
Reigning NSW champion, Meng Cheung from the ACT, struggled for much of the rally, finishing up in sixteenth place in his Honda Integra. Peter King/Paul Bailey, in a Honda Civic, were the first of the front wheel drive cars home and were very happy with eighth place outright.
Michael South (Subaru) and Timothy Wilkins, in the impressive looking Nissan Silvia, both suffered mechanical issues and were unable to start Stage 3. A small mechanical issue during Stage 2 also spelt the end of the rally for the Queensland team of John Keen/Ray Priest in their Subaru WRX.
The rear wheel drive cars really put on a show through the spectator area, which was well attended by approximately two hundred spectators. This event has been well received by the drivers and the overwhelming majority of the community and should provide good economic and social benefits to the region.
A total of thirty four competitors managed to finish the rally and the majority of teams are very keen to come back and do it all again next year.
Provisional results from the Rally New England can be found on the Rally NSW website.
Photo: Alan McIntosh Photograph/Luke McIntosh
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