|
Australia's
elite rallying stars are setting themselves for a spectacular
conclusion to the NEC Australian Rally Championship next month, when
they head to Victoria's Yarra Valley region for the final round of this
year's Championship, the NGK Rally of Melbourne.
Teams
will converge on Yarra Valley on November 9-11, with stages set just
one hour's drive out of Melbourne around some of the most spectacular
scenery the Championship has to offer.
Having
taken out the Championship in front of a home crowd at last year's NGK
Rally of Melbourne, Victorians Simon and Sue Evans are again well
placed to repeat history as Sue guides Simon around the challenging
Melbourne event.
In
a season of complete dominance, Simon and Sue Evans have set the
benchmark for consistency and excellence, guiding their Toyota Corolla
Sportivo to victory in each and every leg of the series to date.
Currently
holding a 119 point lead in the Championship standings, it would take a
dramatic turn of events for their closest rival and Toyota team-mate
Neal Bates to claim the Championship; however Simon Evans isn't taking
anything for granted until the title win has been sealed.
"Anything
can happen in rallying, it sounds like a cliché but it has happened
before so I won't be satisfied until we are guaranteed of the
Championship win," explained Evans.
"Competing
at our home event is a great way to finish the year, it helps when you
know the roads well and all the officials, and it's a much more relaxed
event in your home state."
A
mere two points is all the Evans' need to clinch this year's title and
if the duo can win the Melbourne round they will clean sweep the
season, a feat that hasn't been achieved since the late great Peter
'Possum' Bourne's reign as Australian Champion.
"Last year there was a lot of pressure to win our first championship," Evans said.
"Once
that was achieved we focussed our preparation in the off season to
improving everything from our fitness to strategy and it has paid off."
The married duo has blitzed the field this year, and Simon is under no illusions about who calls the shots during each rally.
"I
definitely speak up for myself a little more around the house, but when
it comes to rallying I trust her with my life so she speaks and I
listen!" he quipped.
"It's
fantastic having Sue as my co-driver, it has worked tremendously well
because we both love the sport- it's fair to say rallying gets a fair
run at the dinner table."
Also
keen to impress on home soil are privateers the Bendigo Bank Rally
Team, with the team currently sitting second on their class points
table and eighth in the overall Championship standings.
"Competing in Victoria
in front of family and friends on home roads allows for a much more
relaxed environment and the logistical aspects of competing become
easier when you are at home," explained Bendigo Bank Team driver Glen
Raymond.
"We
are second in our Class at the moment but quietly confident that come
the end of the series we will win our class as long as we finish both
heats."
Tickets for the NGK Rally of Melbourne are on sale now through Ticketek, online at www.ticketek.com.au or by calling 132 849.
For further information about the 2007 NGK Rally of Melbourne, head to its brand new website, www.rallyofmelbourne.com.au
|