MOTORSPORT: Mazda in Australian Rally Championship with multiple champion
While V8 Supercars is yet to unearth a new manufacturer, a Mazda2 with a multiple national champion at the wheel will take on a pair of Hondas in the new-look Australian Rally Championship this yearThe Mazda 2, with a 2.0-litre MZR engine and six-speed Hollinger gearbox, will pit Evans against his younger brother Eli, who is heading Honda's campaign in the ARC with a pair of Jazz rally cars.
The Mazda will be run as a Rallyschool.com.au entry but it has manufacturer involvement.
It is being built in Sydney by Rallyschool and Darren Williams' Dashsport with suspension input from Murray Coote, a suspension guru who was the last driver to win the ARC crown in a Mazda.
The revamped ARC, which has adopted a two-wheel-drive formula this year, begins with a new stadium event, Rally Calder in Melbourne, on March 1-4.
ARC chief executive Scott Pedder said the Mazda entry and the return of Evans and his wife was "a huge vote of confidence" in the championship.
"It is fantastic to have to have Simon and Sue back in the championship in an exciting new car that will certainly take the fight to the factory Hondas," Pedder said.
Rallyschool.com.au team principal Mick Ryan said the opportunity to run the Evans' in a Mazda was a boon for the championship.
"It will have the right gear with a really strong engine, competition gearbox and the best rally suspension available," Ryan said.
The Evans' are enthusiastic about their return to the championship and developing the Mazda.
"It is a really exciting opportunity and is going to be a real challenge developing the car into a rally winner," Simon Evans said.
"This has huge potential. Opportunity is what you make of it, so this is going to be a lot of hard work and a lot of fun as well.
"Sue and I are looking at the bigger picture, for 2013 and beyond, with hopefully some increased manufacturer involvement from Mazda."
Evans said he was looking forward to taking on the Hondas of brother Eli and Mark Pedder.
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