Spectators at this year’s Scouts Rally SA will get to see a new type of vehicle in action as the Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge joins the event for the first time.
The Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge is a category within the East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship (ECB ARC) that sees Polaris and Can-Am go head to head in a rivalry up there with Holden v Ford and Mitsubishi v Subaru.
The side by side vehicles are 1000cc Polaris RZR and Can-Am Maverick four wheel drive racers, built to similar specifications and are relatively low cost compared to outright ECB ARC rally cars. They provide a fun, exciting, low cost form of motorsport.
“We are looking forward to bringing the Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge to South Australia. It’s an important and growing market for Polaris and we believe that competitors will be impressed by these new vehicles” said Alan Collins, Marketing Manager – Off Road Vehicles, Polaris Industries.
“BRPA welcomes the chance to compete in Scouts Rally SA at Mount Crawford Forest. This event will showcase to our South Australian customers and spectators just how competitive and impressive the Can-Am Maverick is and that the Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge is an exciting and cost effective motorsport accessible to everyone,” said Sam Heyes, Director of Key Accounts and Strategic Priorities, BRP Australia.
For their first trip to South Australia, the service park for the Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge will be based at the newly expanded Rally Village in Mount Crawford Forest.
Spectators will now have a perfect vantage point of two stages, with the opportunity to see competitors tackle each of these stages twice, plus all the action of the Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge Service Park, from the one area in Mount Crawford Forest.
“Spectators are a vital component of Scouts Rally SA, and this announcement is just another way we are improving the spectacle and family friendly nature of the much loved Mount Crawford Forest spectator area” said Ivar Stanelis, Clerk of Course, Scouts Rally SA. “Combine this with an improved Gawler Showgrounds Super Special Stage and the 2014 edition of Scouts Rally SA promises to have something for everyone!”
The spearheads of this category are former Australian and Asia Pacific Rally Champions Cody Crocker and his long time co-driver Greg Foletta, leading the charge for Polaris Racing against Can-Am rivals Michael Guest and David Green.
“We can’t wait to get to South Australia. The new Polaris RZR XP 1000 should really suit the mix of forest and shire roads, with a bit more power and a bit more width” said Cody Crocker, 2012 and 2013 Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge Champion.
“I have fond memories of competing in South Australia and with the new wheels and brakes we’ll be looking forward to closing the points gap to Cody and Greg” said Michael Guest, who finished second in the recent Quit Forest Rally in his Can-Am.
After the Quit Forest Rally, round 1 of the 2014 Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge, Cody Crocker and Greg Foletta lead the way on 80 points, with Michael Guest and David Green second on 68 points, and the Can-Am of Nathan and Les Chivers third on 60 points. The series recommences in South Australia.
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