RallySport Magazine December 2016

RALLY AUSTRALIA SPECTATOR TOUR
EXCLUSIVE SPECTATING
After what seemed like months
of waiting, Kennards Hire Rally
Australia finally arrived, and
fans from Australia, New Zealand, Finland,
Japan and the UK arrived in Coffs
Harbour for RallySport Magazine’s
annual spectator tour.
After checking in at the Aanuka
Beach Resort, guests had a few
hours to unwind before the tour got
underway with a welcome dinner on
Wednesday night.
Guest speaker at the dinner was
WRC TV presenter and end of stage
Photos: PETER WHITTEN
reporter, Julian Porter, who kept
everyone entertained for nearly 90
minutes with stories from the WRC
and, most importantly, where he
thought the VW drivers might end up.
With buses loaded we headed
for shakedown early on Thursday
morning with a brisk walk up the hill
to the Wedding Bells jump, where
the WRC crews quickly got into their
stride. Both Ott Tanak and Lorenzo
Bertelli almost pushed too hard and
were lucky not to damage their Fiestas
after very heavy landings.
A visit to the service park and the
Rally Show completed the day – with
some time in between for swimming
in the ocean or making the most of
Aanuka’s beautiful pools.
Day 1 was the longest day of all
for the tour guests, with a 4.50am
departure time testing even the
earliest of risers! The buses drove
some of the magnificent Baker’s Creek
stage to our exclusive tour location,
where we watched the whole field
from a private spectator point.
The afternoon saw us take in the
Lorenzo Bertelli was the only
privateer running a World
Rally Car, and did it in style.
20 | RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2016