MOTORSPORT: Australian Rally Championship preview

The glistening coastline of Coffs Harbour will be showcased to the world as it hosts the 10th round of the World Rally Championship this weekend.

For local crews, it also forms a vital chance for national and international exposure as they fight for top honours in the ECB Bullbars Australian Rally Championship (ARC).

Run to unique class rules, the front-running ‘G2’ ARC cars are front-wheel drive machines powered by screaming, naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines, delivering a sensory overload of race-engine sound and speed.

Coffs will host the fifth instalment of the six-round ARC, with the fancied factory Honda team coming under increasing pressure from a closing privateer pack.

With the recent announcement of Honda’s withdrawal at the end of this season, the motivation to beat the benchmark Jazz of Eli Evans/Glen Weston before it slides off into the sunset is unsurpassed.

One man who has to be seen as a threat to Honda’s supremacy is Australia’s brightest young rally star, Brendan Reeves, who -- along with co-driving sister Rhianon Smyth -- will be competing at Coffs in their www.rallyschool.com.au Mazda2.

The pair has spent the last two years in Europe, competing in the World Rally Championship Academy, and this year have split time between the Mazda ARC program and driving a Fiesta in the Rally America series alongside the legendary Ken Block.

Despite only competing in four rounds of the six US rounds held so far, Reeves/Smyth have won each time out in America and can actually take the class championship in the final round at Lake Superior in October.

On returning to Australia, Reeves is excited with his prospects. “We are looking forward to competing at a WRC event again,” he said. “We had a wildcard entry at Coffs in 2011 and ran well in our Group N Subaru Impreza STi despite the conditions. This year we are hoping for less slippery stages!” he laughed.

“The Coffs roads offer a good mix of forestry stages and more open, fast sections. In wet conditions the clay surface underneath the gravel, coupled with the narrowness of some sections, makes it very challenging from a technical standpoint.

“We really enjoyed the fans last time. There’s a lot of local support for the event and the introduction of the town stage and short ‘transit’ sections makes it one of the better events from a driver’s standpoint.”

The RallySchool team tested some refinements to the Mazda2 at Colo Park this week, focusing on improvements to the mid-range power delivery of the engine as well as assessing a new, stronger driveshaft design after issues in previous events.

“Honda has effectively had two more years of development with the Jazz, and front-drive Civic before that,” he continued. “Of course, Eli is still the man to beat having won the last nine events. His team-mates Mark Pedder and Claire Ryan will also be up there.”

Besides the Hondas, the two Renault Clios have been improving by the race, headed by the returning Scott Pedder/Dale Moscatt. This quick (and tall) crew have been knocking harder at the Honda door with each rally and could break it down at Coffs. They currently lie second in the championship.

“We’re wary of the Renaults,” says Reeves, who is currently fifth in the standings. “We know they’ve been hard at it from a development viewpoint and are looking to come to Coffs with a substantial power upgrade.”

In the second Renault, young gun Tom Wilde and experienced co-driver Bill Hayes (our esteemed Editor in Chief’s tarmac rally co-driver) have also impressed as the season has developed, with several podium appearances.

Other G2 class competitors include the Volkswagen Polos of Michael Boaden/Helen Cheers, former ARC champs Justin Dowel/Sue Evans, Mick Patton/Bernie Webb and the Mini Cooper of Ric Cary/Harvey Smith.

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