The 2018 AMSAG Southern Cross Rally Series has a new season opener, with Johns River to host the event on March 17.
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It has been barely five months since the event acted as the final round of the 2017 series.
The event will include a mix of nationally recognised competitors inter-twined with State and grassroots teams. Vehicles are categorised as either Classic or Open, and therefore attract a vast array of interesting cars.
Almost 50 vehicles have been listed to compete.
The fast, flowing roads around Kew are favourites with the crews, and organisers have set a course of more than 140 competitive kilometres.
A day-night format will further test the driving and navigational ability of the AMSAG rally teams.
The open series will see Richard Shimmon, Chris Jaques and Ron Moore look to hold off the super-fast Tim Valantine in his Nissan Sylvia.
Reigning champion Peter Neal has returned in his WRX and as always, will be in the outright mix.
The classic series is headed by national champion Nathan Quinn in his Mazda RX2.
As the rally is to be run on St Patrick’s Day, the Escorts of Tom Dermody, PJ O’Keefe and Paddy Carey are expected to be flying the Irish colours and challenging for the lead.
Ian Hill is another Ford Escort driver likely to be thereabouts, as to the Waterhouse Performance Datsun’s of Leigh Manning, Tom Clarke and Michael Valantine.
Local drivers Scott McCloy and Michael Boaden have entered a Datsun 1200 and Ford Escort respectively.
Matt Young is back in his Corolla after a few giant killing performances in 2017 and Queenslander Matthew Linning will make his AMSAG debut and is expected to be competitive.
The women’s series sees Tara McIlroy return in the Corolla to battle Rae Waterhouse in a Datsun 1600. AMSAG has revamped the women’s series to include a final at season end, so both girls will be looking to score early season points.
Michael Broholm has entered the unique 1934 Plymouth (known as ‘DeathProof’) and heads a list of wonderful AMSAG rally vehicles that include Keith McIlroy’s BMW 2002, Tony Jordan’s Triumph Stag, Peter Ewing’s Volvo, Andy Crane and Jason Williams Peugeot 504’s and Wayne Caines’ Holden ute.
The AMSAG Southern Cross Rally Series returns to the region in July, with round four staged at Bulahdelah.
