Three WA rally drivers are locked in a tight battle for Clubman Cup honours in the WA Rally Championship (WARC).
Steve Vass, Carl Rattenbury and Mark Travers (pictured) are each vying for the driver’s title that will be decided at the Darling 200 around Jarrahdale on Saturday, November 16.
Just 10 points separates first from third and with 40 points awarded to the winner, it’s possible any of the three can claim the honours.
Vass, who’s been leading the Championship for most of the 2013 season, said he was looking forward to making up for a disappointing Carringtons Traffic Services (CTS) Safari Rally.
He was forced out of last month’s event when his Datsun 1600 left the road and said: “We are looking to bounce back with a fresh motor and positive attitude.”
Tracey Rattenbury, co-driver to husband Carl said: “We realise the championship is close and there will be a lot of good competition at this event, so we are just hoping to finish strong.”
She said her team had repaired mechanical issues with their Ford Escort: “We have fixed our starting issue that stuffed us up at the last event and found we needed some new shockies also.”
Third on the leaderboard is Mark Travers, who claimed victory at the CTS Safari Rally, in what he described as a ‘lucky’ run.
Travers said would come out firing in his Toyota Sprinter: “I think it’s going to be a win at all cost weekend.”
The battle for Clubman Rookie of the Year is also a tight race between Mike Nairn in a Toyota Corolla and Hugh Harmer in a Holden Commodore.
Meanwhile, in the 2WD Championship Razvan Vlad and Daymon Nicoli have already claimed the 2013 Driver’s and Co-Driver’s titles.
For something different, they will enter their Ford Fiesta in the Clubman Cup division of the Darling 200.
Vlad explained: “If it is hot and dusty I hope to have a better road position by entering Clubman, although the roads won't be as swept.”
“I decided that I would rather run on slippery roads than in the dust, it is less risky and more fun.”
A member of Vlad’s service team, Stephen Wade, is also entering a Ford Fiesta that he’s imported from the UK.
The Irish driver said: “It will be my first rally in Australia and 10 years since I last competed.”
Wade will have experienced competitor Mark Davies in the co-driver’s seat and said he’s hoping for a ‘clean run’.
The Darling 200 kicks off from Jarrahdale Oval on the corner of Nettleton and Millars Roads at midday on Saturday November 16.
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