While the Australian Rally Championship entrants will have a separate battle of their own, the seven time winner of the Bathurst 1000 is expected to be in a class of his own for outright honours as long as the weather stays dry.
Last year, when the event was known as Rallye Burnie, Richards was untouchable. The defending champion, who will again be co-driven by local Barry Oliver, also has eight Targa Tasmania victories and many Rally Tasmania victories to his name. As a result, it would be a brave gambler who bet against ‘Gentleman Jim’ and his rear-wheel drive Porsche 911 GT2 in this year's event.
This will be Richards and Oliver’s 41st tarmac rally together, making them not only one of Australia’s most loyal combinations, but also one of the most successful.
Their biggest challenge is likely to come from another multiple Bathurst 1000 winner, Queenslander Tony Longhurst. Driving for the Launceston-based Les Walkden Rallying team, Longhurst only took up tarmac rallying two years ago, but is relishing the challenge.
Behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Longhurst’s best chances will come if the weather turns nasty. In the wet weather, the superior traction of his four-wheel drive Subaru will give him a considerable advantage.
These are also the conditions that Tasmania’s best chance, Jamie Vandenberg, will be hoping for. The Burnie favourite finished an impressive fifth in this year’s Targa Tasmania, and has been testing his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX in preparation for an assault on this weekend’s rally.
Queenslander Tony Quinn will also be pushing for victory if the conditions suit his similar Mitsubishi. A highly experienced driver in all forms of motorsport, Quinn is a real chance for a podium finish, and could well upset the apple cart if everything goes his way.
Leading into the event, many were predicting that 2008 Rally Tasmania and Targa Tasmania winner, Steve Glenney, would be the man to beat. However, Glenney will drive a 1989 Lancia Delta Integrale, not the late model Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX that took him to success earlier in the season.
Glenney is planning an assault on November’s four-day Classic Adelaide Rally, and will use the Tasmanian Tarmac Challenge as a test session for the Lancia. While not expecting to be up with the front runners, the South Australia is aiming for a top ten finish.
“Horsepower won’t be the car’s strong points, but we expect that the nimbleness and light weight of the Lancia will stand it in good stead,” Glenney said. “We’ll be aiming to be around Cameron Wearing’s pace, as we expect him to be one of the pace setters in Classic Adelaide.”
Wearing was the classic rally winner of Rally Tasmania earlier in the year, and his rear-wheel drive, V8-engined Ford Capri Perana could really shine if the weather remains dry.
Vandenberg isn’t the only Tasmanian with a chance of pushing for a top position. Tarmac regular, Jeff Keyte, will be fast in his Lancer Evo IX, and multiple Tasmanian Rally Champion, David Waldon, will make a rare appearance on the black stuff in his Impreza WRX.
Mazda Australia has also entered the rally for the first time, with WRC hopeful Brendan Reeves leading their charge. Having recently won the two-wheel drive category in the World Rally Championship event in New Zealand, 20-year old Reeves will make his first appearance in the Mazda 3 MPS.
Reeves finished second in this event last year in a Subaru, and can’t wait to get back on the stages around Burnie.
“The MPS is a fantastic car to drive and hopefully we’ll be able to thank Mazda for their support by bringing the car home with a great result,” Reeves said.
Event owner, Les Walkden, has also entered the rally, driving one of his team’s Subaru Impreza WRX STIs.
The entry list for the event is now available at: www.tarmacchallenge.com
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO READ THE FULL STORY
