RallyWA Fires Up at Boddington
Posted on May 30, 2018 Tags: Boddington Rally Western Australia
All smiles from Andy van Kann. Image: CMR Photographic.
Get set for Sunday’s MRF Tyres Boddington Rally, the third round of the Onslow Contracting Western Australian Rally Championship. Thirty-five competitors will tackle eight stages over 130.72 competitive kilometres in and around Boddington, some 130 kms southeast of Perth.
Only 56 points separate the top three competitors in the outright championship. Maximum Motorsport’s John O’Dowd leads the WARC Drivers Standings on 176 points, followed by CASA Security’s Stephen Oxley on 146 points and another Maximum Motorsport driver Brad Markovic sits in third on 120 points.
Subaru driver O’Dowd claimed victory at WARC’s opening event, finished second at the Make Smoking History Forest Rally and has now shifted his focus to the WARC title.
“This year has been fantastic in the state series, and I’d love to add a WARC title to the trophy cabinet!” O’Dowd said. “So the decision to miss Canberra (a round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship that clashes with Boddington) was a pretty easy one to make. I just have to make sure I bank the maximum possible points at Boddington – Steven Oxley has been really strong competition this year.”
Wilde Away in the USA
O’Dowd has had co-driver Tom Wilde calling the notes during the first two rounds and this time has Toni Feaver sitting beside him, Markovic’s usual co-driver, as Wilde is away in the USA.
O’Dowd’s title campaign could be a little easier without pressure from Markovic who took a clean sweep of round two of the WARC, the Make Smoking History Forest Rally in April.
“It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly, but I’ve decided to miss the next few WARC rounds,” said Markovic, who injured his back in a rally accident last year. “My back needs more time to heal and as much as I love nothing more than driving rally cars, it’s not good for my back in its current state.”
Markovic recently sold his production-based Subaru WRX STI. He’s reported to be looking at moving up to an R5 category rally car.
2WD Championship tight
There’s likely to be a good battle in the 2WD Championship. Alex White and co-driver Lisa White lead the Driver and Co-Driver standings by 10 points over Razvan Vlad and Daymon Nicoli. In third place, trailing the leaders by 24 points are Forest Rally winners Mike Young and Scott Beckwith – quite a feat considering they didn’t compete in round one!
The Clubman Cup – half the length and distance of the WA State Rally Championship at 65.36 competitive kilometres – is led by Graeme and Kathy Miles on 136 points, followed by Kevin and Aaron Hollingsworth on 112 points and Stephen Vass and Ashley Burton on 102 points. Of the Boddington field of 35, 29 are competing in the State Championship and six in the Clubman.
Dylan King First off the Mark
Clerk of Course Wendy Walker said that the MRF Tyres Boddington Rally promises to challenge the skills of both driver and co-driver. “There are four stage run twice, one brand new stage the other in reverse direction from last year with a few changes,” Walker said. “Dylan King will be first out on the road, and it’s great to see Shane Eather back after four years.”
The MRF Tyres Boddington Rally Service Park is located at the Riding Club in Boddington, is free to enter and everyone is welcome. The first car is due to start at 10.30am and the rally will finish about 8.00pm
2018 Onslow Contracting Western Australian Rally Championship, remaining rounds
Round 4: 7 July 2018 – Wheels on Yirrigan Kumho Tyre Kirup Rally, Kirup
Round 5: 15 September 2018 – Make Smoking History Experts Cup, Collie
Round 6: 10 November 2018, Darling 200, Jarrahdale (2WD and Clubman Cup only)
2018 CAMS Australian Rally Championship remaining rounds
Round 3: 1-3 June – Netier National Capital Rally (APRC), Canberra, ACT
Round 4: 27-29 July – Rally Tasmania, TAS*
Round 5: 21-23 September – Adelaide Hills Rally, Adelaide Hills, SA
Round 6: 15-18 November – Rally Australia, Coffs Coast, NSW
Media Contact
Dianne Bortoletto, Pronto PR, 0439 997 075, dianne@prontopr.com.au
EDITED by AC
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