RallySport Magazine September 2016

RALLY OF THE BAY - NSWRC 3
ROBERTS WINS
Peter Roberts on his way to
victory. Photos: Aaron Wishart
Story:
CRAIG O’BRIEN
Consistent speed and reliability
rewarded Peter Roberts and
Andrew Crowley with victory in
their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI at
the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the
Bay on Saturday, August 13.
Under clear skies in Batemans Bay
on the south coast of NSW, a total of
43 crews gathered on the banks of
the Clyde River for round three of the
Gary’s Motorsport Tyres NSW Rally
Championship.
The event consisted of 145
competitive kilometres across eight
stages, using the stunning private and
forestry roads of the Eurobodalla and
Shoalhaven Shires.
Crews were greeted with dry and
dusty conditions when the opening
31km Techworkz stage started
proceedings shortly after midday. Tony
Sullens/Kaylie Newell were blindingly
quick in their front wheel drive Citroen
DS3, topping the time sheets, two
seconds clear of Roberts/Crowley, with
the Mitsubishis of Mick Patton/Bernie
Webb and Greg Croker/Tim Batten a
further five seconds adrift.
Further back, Stephen Duthie/Damien
Hanns exited the rally in spectacular
fashion when they crashed their
Datsun 180B at the spectator point.
Croker/Batten would suffer a similar
fate, rolling on SS2 and neutralising
the stage. Meanwhile, Sullens/Newell
would return to service early after
encountering gearbox trouble.
When competition got back underway
for the 10km Whiteline stage, Patton/
Webb jumped into the lead after
winning SS3, but would join the list
50 | RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE - SEPTEMBER 2016
of retirements on SS4 after a minor
incident damaged the oil cooler of the
Repco Evolution X.
Roberts/Crowley would subsequently
inherit the rally lead. Sullens/Newell
rejoined the field, going fastest of
all on SS4 and SS6, before electing
to withdraw with two night stages
remaining. Despite a troubled event,
the crew had put the field on notice and
many were left wondering what could
have been.
While those around them had their
challenges, Richard Shimmon and
Cars line up beside the
Clyde River for the 2016
Rally of the Bay.
Ben Barker was equal third in
his impressive BMW 320is.
Russell Hannah put in a string of
consistent times throughout the day
and night in their Mitsubishi Lancer
Evolution VII to find themselves in a well
deserved second outright, just over two
minutes behind the event winners.
Using the event in preparation for
the next round of the Australian Rally
Championship, Chris Higgs and Kirra
Penny in their Subaru Impreza, found
themselves in a tight battle with former
Toyota works driver Ben Barker and
Damien Long in their rear-wheel drive
BMW 320is.
Heading into the final 10km test a
mere two seconds separated the pair,
with Barker/Long holding the upper
hand. Despite the Subaru crew pipping
the BMW over the final 10km, nothing
could separate them in the overall
results, and they would share the final
step on the podium.
Tom Clarke/Ryan Preston
(Mitsubishi), Tim Wilkins/Katie Fletcher
(Nissan), Bethany and Matthew Cullen
(Mitsubishi), Thomas Dermody/
Eoin Moynihan (Ford Escort), Brett
Middleton/Andrew Benefield (Honda
Civic) and Tom and Nick Ryan (Toyota)
completed the top 10.
The series takes a short break until
the Bathurst Rally on September 24.