The ARMOR ALL Power Stage at the Quit Forest Rally has been completed and the stage is set for what is shaping up for a hotly contested second round of the East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship (ARC).
Scott Pedder and his co-driver Dale Moscatt (Renault Clio R3) were fastest around the 2.29 kilometre stage that was held on tarmac along the Busselton Foreshore this morning, however, the top crews were separated by just over 1 second.
“I hate losing, so it’s always nice to start the weekend with a win,” Pedder said. “We’ve won around here a few times and this is a very important stage as you can loose 5 or 10 seconds here if you don’t have the right car and you aren’t sharp and concentrating. As we found out in Canberra (National Capital Rally) 5 or 10 seconds in the forest is very hard to get back,” he continued.
Despite being fast in qualifying during previous ARC power stages in the past it was the first time Pedder had taken honours.
“Brendo (Brendan Reeves) didn’t have a handbrake, which would have cost him, and we had an okay run for most of the corners so it’s good to have a win,” Pedder said.
“Hopefully it’s the start of a great weekend and a big thanks to ARMOR ALL and ECB and all the sponsors that make it happen,” Pedder continued.
Pedder’s co-driver Dale Moscatt added, “This stage hasn’t been run yet for the weekend so there’s a bit of sand in places and it’s a normal public road every other day of the week so thanks to the shire and everyone for loaning us the road for the week.”
In second position, 1.2 seconds behind Pedder, were current ARC leaders Brendan Reeves and Rhiannon Gelsomino (Mazda 2). The brother-sister combination damaged a handbrake in the qualifying run for the ARMOR ALL Power Stage but will be looking to come out firing when they run two more stages around the same course this evening.
Alan Roe/Steve Glenney (Ford Focus) were third fastest, just over 3 seconds off Pedder.
Adrian Coppin/Tim Batten (Citroen DS3 R3T) were fourth fastest with Mick Patton/Bernie Webb (Volkswagen Polo) in fifth and Tony Sullens/Julia Barkley (Citroen DS3 R3T) in sixth.
The Quit Forest Rally officially gets underway tonight when the crews contest the Trade Hire Busselton Super Special Stage around the Busselton foreshore. Over the weekend 59 cars, 10 Motos and 5 side-by-side (all terrain) vehicles will by vying for top spot in their respective categories.
The Quit Forest Rally will be held from the 4 – 6 April in the Busselton and Nannup and is celebrating its 30th Birthday in 2014. The event is the second round of the 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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