Smart too good in Benarkin Rally

Ryan Smart and John McCarthy took a dominant victory in the final round of the MRF Tyres Queensland Rally Championship, the P3 Solutions Benarkin Rally, last weekend.

Driving the Lancer Evo 9 that he won Rally Queensland in earlier this year, Smart was in a class of his own to win the 10 stage event by over three minutes.

In second place was another Lancer Evo 9 in the hands of Ian Menzies and Rob McGowan, while third place, a further two and a half minutes back, were Marius Swart and Peta Davies in their VW Polo.

Kent Lawrence and Nathan Long were next in a Lancer Evo 9. There was a dead heat between Melinda Bergman and Larisa Biggar (Subaru Legacy RS Turbo) and Todd Webster/Ryan Preston (Subaru Impreza WRX) to round out the top five.

Only 12 cars finished the QRC section of the event, with the first two-wheel drive car home the Escort RS1800 of Keith Fackrell and Tony Best.

A full report on the event will appear in the October issue of RallySport Magazine, available on October 13.

- Peter Whitten

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