MOTORSPORT: Queensland’s international rally back to Canberra

Queensland’s loss is Canberra’s gain. The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) announced the cancellation of the International Rally of Queensland on Friday, but today it’s back on in the national capital.

What was to have been the Australian round of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, as well as a round of the Australian and Queensland championships, on the Sunshine Coast was cancelled because of the difficulty in enticing enough international entries to retain state government financial support.

Now, the event, still including an ARC round, will be run by the Brindabella Motorsport Club on the same dates it was scheduled up north – May 26-28.

Canberra had been down to host the fifth round of the ARC on October 13-15.

The only major rally in Australia beyond that date is Rally Australia, a round of both the world and Australian championships, on November 16-19 at Coffs Harbour in NSW.

Unless Canberra hosts a second event this year, or another is added elsewhere, the ARC will now comprise five rounds rather than the six originally scheduled, starting with the revived Eureka Rally at Ballarat in Victoria on March 17-19.

Only a month ago the rally fraternity was being told that, with a new base at Nambour, 100km north of Brisbane and new stages – including one at night at the Nambour showgrounds – “IROQ [International Rally of Queensland] promises to be the best yet”.

It was a very different story by last week once it became clear that the event would not attract the required international entries to qualify for continued support from Tourism and Events Queensland’s regional development program.

Announcing the “unfortunate” cancellation on Friday, CAMS general manager of motorsport events, Michael Smith, said only that “plans are underway to find a future host for the Australian round of the APRC”.

However, the same day a brief note appeared on the world governing Federation Internationale de l’Automobile’s website for the APRC saying “CAMS have been working on a solution and can confirm that the Australian round will run on the same scheduled weekend but will now be held in Canberra”.

Three days later CAMS itself confirmed that publicly.

CAMS took over the running of the rally in Queensland last year, after the Brisbane Sporting Car Club had organised the event that eventually ascended to international standing (in 2009) from 1968 until 2015.

Smith said today that “it’s simply outstanding” that the Brindabella Motorsport Club, and especially its president Martin Holberton, “have been able to pull this opportunity together”.

“We think that the National Capital Rally will be greatly enhanced with the addition of the APRC,” Smith said.

Holberton said it made sense for the APRC to come “home” to Canberra after a nine-year absence.

“The event returning to Canberra is the culmination of several years of work with the community to grow the event [National Capital Rally] with increased competitor numbers and spectators,” Holberton said.

“The event is already shaping up to be an excellent one, with increased spectating opportunities demonstrating the best parts of Canberra dirt roads in the Cotter and Kowen forests,” he said.
Penske NASCAR triumph as Ford does it again
Legendary American team owner Roger Penske’s Ford drivers in Supercars, Scott McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard, couldn’t pull it off at Adelaide’s Clipsal 500, but one of his NASCAR drivers won on the speedway in Atlanta today.

Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Cup champion for Penske (in a Dodge then), took the lead in the 500-mile (800km) race on the 316th of the 325 laps.

Kevin Harvick, in another Ford entered by Stewart-Haas Racing, led 292 laps but a penalty for speeding under caution in the pit road dropped him to the back of the field for the final restart.

Ford Fusions have now won both NASCAR rounds this season, with Kurt Busch victorious in his Stewart-Haas entry at last week’s Daytona 500.

Keselowski lost the lead earlier at Atlanta when he had to return to the pits because of loose wheel nuts after a stop before a restart on lap 270.

He was back up to third by lap 309 and, after Harvick’s penalty two laps later, got by Matt Kenseth’s Toyota and Kyle Larson’s Chevrolet for the 22nd Cup victory of his career.

“This one kind of fell in our lap at the end,” Keselowski said, while Harvick rued that he had been “snake-bitten” at Atlanta.

Harvick now leads the 36-round series with 90 points to Kurt Busch’s 86, Keselowski has 84, Chase Elliott (Chevrolet) 82 and Penske’s other Cup driver, Joey Logano – sixth at Atlanta – 80.

Simmons back in Godzilla
Nissan Australia will support 2015 GT Academy International winner Matt Simmons in his second full season of professional motorsport. The young Queenslander will return to the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup driving the #22 factory Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 in the Pro Class.

Simmons will drive with Welshman Matt Parry and Brit Struan Moore. The GT-R GT3 squad will be factory-supported operation, RJN Motorsports.

Simmons made an impressive Blancpain debut in Europe last year – including a solid seventh place class finish at Silverstone. This year, however, the challenge will step up, with Simmons and his new team-mates competing in the Pro Class.

The #22 GT-R will share a garage with the #23 official NISMO factory-backed entry to be driven by Lucas Ordonez, Alex Buncombe and Bathurst 12 Hour winner, Katsumasa Chiyo.

Less than two years ago, Simmons held a full-time job at Australia Post before winning the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy competition.

Round 1 of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup will be held at Monza, Italy on April 22-23.