The official entry list for the Coates Hire Rally Australia round of the World Rally Championship at Coffs Harbour has been released, featuring nine domestic competitors.
While experienced WRC driver Chris Atkinson remains Australia’s best hope of a podium result as part of the Shell Hyundai World Rally Team, a host of locally-based combinations will compete directly against the imported entries in the lower classes.
Heading the list of domestic competitors in the WRC component of the event is Queensland Subaru driver Matt van Tuinen in his RC2 Subaru Impreza.
Five other Australian crews have entered a mix of Subaru and Mitsubishi Lancer RC2 machinery, which are supplemented by a further three RC3s, made up of Citroen DS3s and a single Ford Fiesta.
The locals ensure that a total 30 cars are entered in the international component of the rally.
Click here for the WRC Rally Australia entry list
Headlining the event are the 11 international WRC crews, led by reigning world champion winner Sebastien Ogier and his Volkswagen team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala.
Despite both crashing out of Rally Germany, Ogier and Latvala remain first and second on the WRC standings on 187 and 143 points respectively.
Citroen’s Kris Meeke (eighth in championship standings) and Mads Ostberg (fourth in points) commandeer the DS3s.
M-Sport pair of Mikko Hirvonen and Elfyn Evans are looking to improve on their solid runs in Germany.
Neuville earned his maiden WRC victory in Rally Germany which also supplied the Korean marque with its first success at world championship level.
Kiwi Hayden Paddon, entered under the Hyundai Motorsport N banner, is seeded 11th.
Event manager David Catchpole is promising that September 10-12 event will be major test for all teams.
“Our sporting team led by Clerk of Course Adrian Stafford has prepared a course, including the Hyundai Super Special Stage over two nights, that will be a true test to the standard expected of a WRC event and an unmissable spectacle for fans,” he said.
The event, which covers 319.58km of competitive stages, also includes 42 two-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive, Classic and Side-by-Side vehicles entered for the fifth round of the East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship.
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