MOTORSPORT: ARC crews locked at the top

Coffs Harbour may be turning it on for the World Rally Championship stars this weekend, but it's also a vital event for crews in the Australian Rally Championship.

Rally Australia is the penultimate round of the six-event series, and the championship battle is down to a two-horse race.

As an endurance event, it is run over three days and around 300km of competition, asking crews to tackle around 100km more than a regular round.

The additional points on offer – not to mention a chance to perform in front of WRC crews – make Coffs the jewel in the local rallying crown.

Buoyed by their recent victories, Scott Pedder and Dale Moscatt came into Coffs high on confidence, and with a five-point championship lead.

But a qualifying spin saw the Walkinshaw Performance Renault Clio crew miss out on the crucial 2.5km Armor All Power Stage. Thankfully, little damage was incurred.

This was the opportunity early-season championship leaders, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Gelsomino needed, and they promptly delivered a power stage victory in the rallyschool.com.au Mazda2, gaining five crucial championship points and a $500 novelty cheque.

That may go some way to fixing what transpired later, when a media drive went wrong after Reeves struck a puncture and careened into a bank.

A visit to the rallyschool.com.au enclosure confirmed the damage was repairable and Reeves/Gelsomino will take the start on Friday morning.

The remaining steps on the Power Stage podium were taken by Citroen twins Tony Sullens and Adrian Coppin, fresh from his experience in WRC Germany.

Steve Mackenzie was fourth, returning to the fold in an updated Ford Fiesta, while Michael Boaden and Mick Patton took the remaining positions.

The focus now turns to Friday, where ARC crews will run directly behind the WRC teams on their first day of action. The contenders have some catching up to do, but who will hold sway come Sunday?