Current ECB Australian Rally Championship leaders, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Gelsomino, have finished Heat 1 of the Quit Forest Rally in second place in the RallySchool.com.au Mazda 2, just 32.8 seconds behind Scott Pedder/Dale Moscatt (Renault Clio).
Reeves started the day well, winning the first stage by 4.3 seconds and he and Pedder were within five seconds of each other on all but two of the day's eight stages.
AFter overnight rain in the Busselton region, damp roads greeted drivers this morning but they dried out during the day. Reeves gambled with medium tyres before the start of the day's action but as the day wore on he admitted that hards would perhaps have been more suitable for the road conditions.
Pedder's biggest margin today was on SS5 when Reeves' brakes overheated and he dropped 14.6 seconds to his rival, but he didn't panic and drove smooth and neat for the rest of the morning stages.
After the mid-day service, crews repeated the morning stages, and with the roads now swept of the loose ball-bearing gravel, times were faster and the conditions were easier.
"It was a tough day out there today," Reeves said. "Getting used to the ball-bearing gravel that Western Australian rally roads are known for takes some time, but I'm confident that tomorrow will be easier.
"The car was great today. I probably chose the wrong compound tyres but our times were really close to Scott's (Pedder). Well done to he and Dale for winning the Heat.
"Rhianon and I are looking forward to taking the challenge up to them tomorrow."
Heat 2 of the Quit Forest Rally, round 2 of the ECB Australian Rally Championship, starts tonight with one run of the Busselton Super Special Stage. It will then resume tomorrow with another eight forestry stages.
Results, Heat 1, Quit Forest Rally
1. Pedder/Moscatt, Renault Clio.
2. Reeves/Gelsomino, Mazda2, +32.8
3. Coppin/Batten, Citroen DS3, +4:02.0
4. Sullens/Barkley, Citroen DS3, +4:29.9
5. Roe/Glenney, Ford Focus, +5:46.6
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