Coates Hire Rally Australia, the local Round of the World Rally Championship, will see one of the strongest fields assembled so far this season across all of the major categories including the 2WD outright, National 4WD’s, Classics and Side-by-Sides.
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While the World’s fastest drivers will battle it out at the head of the field, including reigning World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier, Rally Germany winner Thierry Neuville, former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica and the Tasman rivalry between Hyundai team mates Chris Atkinson (pictured) and Hayden Paddon, a further 42-cars are entered in the support categories.
“At the top of this list, the 11 drivers for the manufacturer teams representing Volkswagen, Hyundai, Citroen and M-Sport (Ford) are men of extraordinary sporting talent,” said Event Manager David Catchpole.
“They compete around the world in all conditions from Sweden to Monte Carlo to Mexico and in just two weeks’ time they will line up for the start in Coffs Harbour, the farthest destination on the 13-country WRC tour.
“Our sporting team led by Clerk of Course Adrian Stafford has prepared a course, including the Hyundai Super Special Stage over two nights, that will be a true test to the standard expected of a WRC event and an unmissable spectacle for fans.”
Just like earlier in the year at the Asia-Pacific Round in Queensland, local drivers can elect to enter the full World Championship event or the Australian Rally Championship, with all drivers competing over the same stages.
Nine Australian crews have nominated to run in the World Championship for this event, with Matt van Tuinen the highest seeded in his Subaru Impreza WRX followed by the Citroen duo of Tony Sullens and Adrian Coppin, and fellow front-wheel drive contender Razvan Vlad.
While Sullens, Coppin and Vlad will run slightly ahead of the main East Coast Bullbars ARC field, they will still compete directly against regulars Scott Pedder and Brendan Reeves for outright 2WD honours.
Mick Patton and Michael Boaden will join them as well as the debut of Steve Mackenzie’s long awaited Ford Fiesta RS. Refresh off his debut at Rally Queensland David Wilson also lines up in his Toyota Corolla, in addition to Justin Northage and Tom Ryan.
Sixteen crews will take the start line in the National 4WD series, led by the return of Irishman Ritchie Dalton, while Neal Bates and Jeff David will resume their battle for supremacy but chased hard by a further fourteen Classics competitors.
And rounding out the field the Can-Am versus Polaris battle will continue with six drivers taking part in the Side-by-Side Rally Challenge including Cody Crocker and Michael Guest.
The 72-car WRC and ARC field will be on display at the Coates Hire Rally Show and official start in the Coffs Harbour city centre from 1pm Thursday.
Tickets for Coates Hire Rally Australia are on sale at NRMAtix through the event website www.rallyaustralia.com.au. The website also carries comprehensive spectating information, including timetables, maps and schedules for the free Michelin Shuttle service to the weekend rally villages.
The Rally Australia program also will feature the Pedders Suspension Coffs Coast 400, an off-road championship round on a separate course north of Coffs Harbour. Tickets are available from NRMAtix.
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