Whitey
29-05-2007, 04:31 PM
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Interstate Challenge
With just under two weeks until the Hyundai Interstate Challenge showdown at the Bega Valley Motors Rally, it is time to look at the form guide of competitors from both states.
Without a doubt the red hot favorites, full of confidence & fresh from a win against former Aussie champs Ed Ordynski & Iain Stewart in the Lithgow Rally, are Glenn “The Fazz” Farrant and Anna Ritson. The Fazz has been in awesome form so far this year winning both completed Race Brakes NSW Series rounds by a country mile. Glenn will captain the NSW team.
The Victorian Team will be led by Paul Batten, who with Codriver Craig Jones has piloted the Kangan Batman TAFE, Hyundai supported Excel to very convincing wins in the first two Rally Drive Victorian Series rounds. Batten/Jones will also come to Bega fresh from competing the weekend before in their Subaru WRX at Rally of Canberra and should have plenty of match practice. The clash between Batten/Jones & Farrant/ Ritson for Excel bragging right should be outstanding.
Other NSW competitors to watch will be Mick Gillett/ Marek Didzowski in the Hyundai backed car. Their preparation is less than ideal having not turned a wheel in anger so far this year. A lot will depend on whether they can switch on their 2006 form from the outset. Dave Roberts/ Matt Mead are rebuilding their speed after an expensive engine blow up at Round 1 and have the ability to match pace with Farrant if they can exorcise the demons from their machinery.
The Victorian Team of Tom & Loretta Kaitler have always had good speed from their single CAM machine but have suffered some bad luck with a broken wheel in the East Gippsland Stages and a non start in Round 1, The Cerberus Stages. The all girl crew of Emma Cugley/ Jo Robison have driven consistently fast over the first two Victorian rounds to be second in the Rally Drive Series and after an off-road excursion on Stage 1 at Bega last year will be keen to show their real form. These teams will definitely battle with Gillett and Roberts for the podium placings.
Teams such as the consistent John Ernst/Bronwyn Metha, newcomers Fiona White/Mick Loxton and the two car Team Carney from Victoria and the Russian connection of Andrei Artimov/Alex Pisarev and Matt & Ben Cullen for NSW will hold the key to winning the Hyundai Interstate Challenge as the first few places should be pretty evenly split between the states. It is unclear at this point whether Greg Moulden (Vic) and David White (NSW) will be competing at the event.
On thing is certain, the challenge will be a close battle with Victoria keen to avenge their narrow loss last year. Any DNF from either team could be the decisive factor.
Interstate Challenge
With just under two weeks until the Hyundai Interstate Challenge showdown at the Bega Valley Motors Rally, it is time to look at the form guide of competitors from both states.
Without a doubt the red hot favorites, full of confidence & fresh from a win against former Aussie champs Ed Ordynski & Iain Stewart in the Lithgow Rally, are Glenn “The Fazz” Farrant and Anna Ritson. The Fazz has been in awesome form so far this year winning both completed Race Brakes NSW Series rounds by a country mile. Glenn will captain the NSW team.
The Victorian Team will be led by Paul Batten, who with Codriver Craig Jones has piloted the Kangan Batman TAFE, Hyundai supported Excel to very convincing wins in the first two Rally Drive Victorian Series rounds. Batten/Jones will also come to Bega fresh from competing the weekend before in their Subaru WRX at Rally of Canberra and should have plenty of match practice. The clash between Batten/Jones & Farrant/ Ritson for Excel bragging right should be outstanding.
Other NSW competitors to watch will be Mick Gillett/ Marek Didzowski in the Hyundai backed car. Their preparation is less than ideal having not turned a wheel in anger so far this year. A lot will depend on whether they can switch on their 2006 form from the outset. Dave Roberts/ Matt Mead are rebuilding their speed after an expensive engine blow up at Round 1 and have the ability to match pace with Farrant if they can exorcise the demons from their machinery.
The Victorian Team of Tom & Loretta Kaitler have always had good speed from their single CAM machine but have suffered some bad luck with a broken wheel in the East Gippsland Stages and a non start in Round 1, The Cerberus Stages. The all girl crew of Emma Cugley/ Jo Robison have driven consistently fast over the first two Victorian rounds to be second in the Rally Drive Series and after an off-road excursion on Stage 1 at Bega last year will be keen to show their real form. These teams will definitely battle with Gillett and Roberts for the podium placings.
Teams such as the consistent John Ernst/Bronwyn Metha, newcomers Fiona White/Mick Loxton and the two car Team Carney from Victoria and the Russian connection of Andrei Artimov/Alex Pisarev and Matt & Ben Cullen for NSW will hold the key to winning the Hyundai Interstate Challenge as the first few places should be pretty evenly split between the states. It is unclear at this point whether Greg Moulden (Vic) and David White (NSW) will be competing at the event.
On thing is certain, the challenge will be a close battle with Victoria keen to avenge their narrow loss last year. Any DNF from either team could be the decisive factor.