The inspiring 24 year old is leading the four-wheel drive competition of the Bosch Australian Rally Championship (ARC) after two wins from two rounds in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.
He’ll aim for a third when he tackles the fast forestry stages of the International Rally of Queensland (IROQ) for the first time next weekend (May 25-27).
Lucky for him, co-driver Lee Tierney has competed in the event twice before.
Wilde says: “We’re planning on another podium finish and hoping to consolidate our lead in the championship.”
The Nannup local recognised a childhood dream by winning his home event – the Quit Forest Rally (QFR). He was the first WA driver to do that in 20 years.
Wilde and Tierney’s toughest competition may come from fellow WA rally team and on-course rivals Nicholas Box and Ash Ridden.
The courageous pair is hungry for ARC points after crashing out of QFR in spectacular style. Their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 was destroyed and Box had to have surgery on a broken elbow.
Both WA partnerships can’t wait to mix it with the internationals also competing in IROQ.
There’s a bumper entry list over more than 100 with teams from Britain, Sweden, India, Malaysia and Japan.
Also competing in IROQ is Australia’s most successful international rally driver Chris Atkinson in a Skoda Fabia 2000 and defending Asia Pacific Rally Champion Alister McRae (also from WA) with his factory Proton team from Malaysia.
Plus newlywed Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke and V8 Supercars driver Tom Slade will add some star power to the event.
The event, in its 44th year, is the longest-running rally on the ARC calendar.
In addition to being the third rounds for both the Australian and Asia Pacific championships, the event incorporates the Australian Classic Rally Challenge and the Side-by-Side Rally Challenge for all-terrain vehicles plus the Queensland Rally Championship.
IROQ starts in Caloundra on Friday, takes in the forests of the Sunshine Coast across the weekend, and finishes in Imbil on Sunday afternoon.
Event organisers say the number of competitors reflects the passion for rallying in Australia and they’re expecting extensive media coverage nationally and overseas.
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