Simon Evans put in a faultless performance on today’s ARMOR ALL & STP Power Stage, just edging out Tony Sullens by 0.3 seconds. But it was the qualifying run disaster that befell Eli Evans that dominated the morning’s proceedings.
With drivers being afforded just one qualifying run on the Power Stage this season, it really has become a make or break proposition for drivers eager for those few extra Championship points on offer.
But when Eli Evans powered away from the start line in his Citroen DS3 for his qualifying pass I’m sure he wasn’t expecting such a quick end to his day. “My fault, just too fast and not thinking,” said Eli with a disappointed shake of his head.
“I came into a right hand corner too quick, there were a couple of tree stumps on the outside. Even Glen (Weston, co-driver) felt I was probably a bit fast into the corner and repeated the (pace note) call, but it was too late.”
The Citroen impacted heavily with the first stump, then spun and hit the second, doing significant damage to the front end of the car. “I’ve left the boys with a lot of work to do, we have about 19-20 hours to make the start line tomorrow morning. I’ve very much got my tail between my legs,” Eli said.
Eli had in fact been the second car on the road, his older brother Simon had already set a blisteringly quick qualifying time anticipating that he’d have a battle on his hands.
“I gave it everything!” exclaimed Simon. “I knew it’d be a massive fight so I went for it. It’s massively disappointing to see Eli crash out, I love racing my brother. It was a tricky corner, I took it easy there on my run.”
Behind Simon the remaining two front-wheel drive qualifiers were Tony Sullens and for the first time this year Molly Taylor. “Finally into a Power Stage,” exclaimed Molly. “I’d told myself I had to make one before the year was out!”
In the Australian 4WD Series Mick Patton and Marcus Walkem were scraping it out during their qualifying run, but were seriously overshadowed by a rampant Peter Roberts, the local Mitsubishi driver setting a startlingly quick time despite he and co-driver Andrew Crowley having never run together before.
With the running order established Mick Patton was first away into the stage. “I got my braking wrong into a couple of corners, probably cost me a couple of seconds,” said a downcast Mick by the finish.
“It was good warm up to the weekend though, and full credit goes to all the 4WD guys out here today, it was a cracking fight on this stage which means it’s going to be a massive battle all weekend.”
Marcus Walkem was delighted on the other hand by the time he reached the finish line. “We’ve got new suspension in the car for this weekend and it’s completely different, completely transformed it!”
Having completed his qualifying run with the intercom in his Mitsubishi turned off, Walkem and co-driving brother Scott, found they were able to fully commit to the stage to set a time over three seconds quicker than Patton.
He was unsure though if it would be enough to stop the rampaging Peter Roberts, who was next into the stage. “If Peter does better then he’s a deserved winner,” Walkem said.
And as Roberts flashed across the line it was immediately apparent that he had not only beaten Walkem’s time but smashed it, almost two seconds quicker.
“I was thinking it was going to be difficult,” said a relieved Roberts. “For someone like me, with not a real big team, it’s a bit of a risk driving flat out on a stage like this. But to get the win ahead of the rally proper is a good feeling.”
With the 4WD’s settled the leading 2WD contenders lined up, Molly first away. “The stage felt really good to me, but our time isn’t very good,” said a bemused Taylor by the finish.
“All I can think is maybe we’re losing out on the up hill run away from the start line. Not sure, it’s actually quite confusing because as I say it felt great in the car,” added Molly.
Her time was immediately eclipsed by Tony Sullens, the Citroen driver setting a time over three seconds faster. “I had a big dip on the qualifying run, and an even bigger dip that time,” he exclaimed.
“But every time the turbo was on full boost it’d start cutting out, like it’s over boosting. We replaced the turbo for this event, maybe it’s not quite as good as we hoped. So our time is good, but I know it could have been better!”
With just Simon Evans to run Sullens had an anxious wait. “I had a good run, but not a Simon Evans good run!” he laughed.
And as the Honda Jazz driver flashed past the timing markers Sullens knew he’d just missed out, by only three tenths of a second.
“I tried my best, I was hoping for an improvement, because I knew Tony had done such a great job,” said Simon. “I used this as a practice session for the rally because I know I’ll have to be on it as soon as we start tomorrow.”
“We’ve made a lot of changes to the car and it’s feeling really strong,” added Evans. “I’m happy to get the bonus points today because I’m not at all happy to be fighting for fifth in the Championship at the moment!”
Drivers now prepare for the Coates Hire Rally Australia start show later this afternoon in the very centre of Coffs Harbour, before the real rally action gets underway from the first stage after 8am tomorrow morning.
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