A smooth and consistent drive on Heat 1 of Lightforce Rally SA has seen the Subaru do Motorsport team take a season best second outright in the Barossa Valley.
The Subaru pairing of Molly Taylor and Bill Hayes, driving their Group N Production Class All-Wheel Drive Subaru WRX STI NR4, made the most of the drier stages to set consistently fast times over the day’s seven special stages.
As some of their championship rivals hit trouble, the Subaru do Motorsport pairing continued their assault on the championship title.
Heavy rain in the days leading up to round four of the 2016 Kumho Tyre Australian Rally Championship forced organisers to make major alterations to the rally route, as many of the forest stages became unusable.
However, in fine and overcast conditions, and after overcoming an early electrical problem, Molly was eighth after the first stage, but fought back brilliantly to be second by day’s end.
“Our strength so far this season has been our consistency, so we needed to play to that strength,” Molly said.
“Today’s stages were really enjoyable, especially the two night stages where we were able to make up some positions.
“The car has been great once again, and we’re looking forward to building on this result tomorrow.”
South Australia’s beautiful Barossa Valley proved the perfect backdrop for Molly’s Subaru, which for this event features a Murray River-inspired livery.
Sunday’s second Heat will see competitors tackling a further six special stages on a mixture of shire road and forestry stages, before the podium finish in Mt Pleasant late in the afternoon.
The South Australian event is round four of the five-round 2016 Kumho Tyre Australian Rally Championship.
HEAT ONE PLACINGS (provisional)
1. Reeves/Gelsomino, Subaru Impreza WRX, 56:25.8
2. Taylor/Hayes, Subaru WRX STI, 58:36.5, +02:10.7
3. Markovic/Macneall, Subaru Impreza WRX STI, 58:38.5, +02:12.7
4. Rodda/Langfield, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, 1:01:48.8, +05:23.0
5. Windus/Allen, Subaru Impreza WRX, 1:02:01.1, +05:35.3
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