The Swisse Renault Sport Rally Team will be looking to regain the manufacturers’ championship lead as the East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship (ARC) heads to Coffs Harbour this weekend for the Coates Hire Rally Australia - a round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
July’s fourth round of the ARC, Rally Queensland, rewarded the strength of the Renault Clio R3 with Tom Wilde/Bill Hayes securing a second place result on the first ‘endurance’ style event for the season.
Scott Pedder/Dale Moscatt were once again locked in an intense battle for the Rally Queensland lead with Eli Evans and looked set to take things down to the wire with two stages remaining.
However disaster struck on the penultimate stage of the event when Pedder slipped off the road at a hairpin and become stuck losing over ten minutes in the process.
It’s this show of form and strength however that will hold both Clio R3s in good stead as they approach the longest and most demanding round of the year, competing against the world’s best.
The event is also a fond one for Wilde as it’s the location of one of his greatest rallying achievements in winning the 2011 ARC Junior Challenge.
Renault Sport Rally Team driver Scott Pedder said:
“We've proved again at Rally Queensland that the Renault Clio R3 is definitely a match for the Honda and with a bit of luck we can win Rally Australia and Rally Victoria and get back in championship contention. We’ll definitely be pushing hard to knock [Eli] Evans off his post this weekend. The little Renault is a real jet and I'm very confident heading into the weekend. The aim for sure is to take the Renault to victory here and be in the fight for both the drivers' and manufacturers' championships come the last round in Victoria."
Renault Sport Rally Team driver Tom Wilde said:
“It's great to be back in this part of the country and I had a really good run here in 2011 and was crowned Junior Champion at the end of it. I'm really happy with the car today, we've made a few changes in the suspension and the Renault is handling really well. My sights are firmly set on Rally Australia now and continuing this strong form for the Renault Sport Rally Team. It's a great event down in Coffs and I really enjoy it there and all the fan who come out and support the event."
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO READ THE FULL STORY
