Marysville driver, Derek Reynolds, has won the Rally Bonnie Doon, the first round of the Victorian Club Rally Series, held on Saturday.
Driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5, Reynolds and co-driver, David Kelly, finished just two seconds ahead of NSW driver, Carl Stewart, after a brilliant drive in an ageing Datsun 1600.
The 73 car field contested 10 stages in the Strathbogie Ranges, after starting at the Bonnie Doon Hotel on Saturday morning. Perfect weather conditions ensured close competition, but Reynolds’ four-wheel drive, turbocharged Mitsubishi proved the car to beat.
In third place was the Datsun Stanza of Darryn Snooks, while Liam Dunn (Mitsubishi) and Gerrard Mabbitt (Subaru) rounded out the top five.
Several cars retired from the event because of mechanical problems or minor altercations with the scenery, but 59 cars still managed to make it back to the finish at the Bonnie Doon Hotel on Saturday afternoon.
The event was conducted by the Wangaratta-based North Eastern Car Club.
Top 5 finishers:
1 Derek Reynolds(#)/David Kelly, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5, 58m38s 

2 Carl Stewart(#)/Dean Price, Datsun 1600, 58:40 

3 Darryn Snooks/Matt de Vaus, Datsun Stanza, 59:19 

4 Liam Dunn/Stefanie Hillier, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, 3 59:27 

5 Gerrard Mabbitt/Simon Thompson, Subaru WRX, 59:29
Photos: John DoutchÂ
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