The Quit Forest Rally is gearing up for one of its biggest years yet as the event celebrates its 30th Birthday from 4 – 6 April, 2014.
After starting as a round of the West Australian Rally Championship, the Quit Forest Rally became a round of the Australian Rally Championship in 1985, and is now the longest continuous running event in the ARC.
In its early years the Quit Forest Rally was based in Manjimup, before moving to Narrogin and then the Perth- Mundaring – Harvey regions. In 2000 the event found its home in Busselton & Nannup where it has been held ever since.
Quit Forest Rally Clerk of Course, Ross Tapper, has been in the role for 27 years alongside a team of officials, many of whom have been involved from the very start.
“Over the past 30 years we have seen Australia’s best privateers and manufacturer teams from Subaru, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Ford and Honda contest the event and have seen the Australian Rally Championship change from a 2WD competition to 4WD and now back to 2WD,” Tapper said.
“Each year the event grows bigger and 2014 is going to be another great year with crews competing in Renault’s, Citroen’s, Ford’s, Volkswagen’s, Nissan’s and Peugeot’s contesting the 2WD ARC alongside Subaru’s and Mitsubishi’s in the 4WD class, some unforgettable classics as well as the Side-by-Side and Moto contestants,” he continued.
Since becoming a round of the ARC the event has been won by 14 different crews with Neal Bates and Coral Taylor heading the leader board, winning on six occasions. Drivers such as Possum Bourne, Ross Dunkerton, and Simon Evans have also been very successful at the event.
Healthway came on as a sponsor of the event in 1995 initially under the banner of Respect Yourself, however in 2005 the banner was changed to QUIT to promote stopping smoking.
“This will be the 20th year that Healthway have sponsored this event which is one of the longest running sponsorships in rallying in Australia and their support has been an integral part in ensuring the Quit Forest Rally continues to be one of the premiere rally events in the country,” said Tapper.
There will be a 30th Celebration Party on Saturday 29 March at the WA Car Club Rooms after scrutiny, documentation and equipment pickup for officials.
The Quit Forest Rally will run on 4-6 April, 2014. The event is the second round of the 2014 ECB Australian Rally Championship, the first round of the West Australian Rally Championship and for the fourth year will also include competition for Side-by-Side, Motorbike and Quad entrants.
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