V8 Supercars driver Tim Slade will take on a new challenge later this month when he competes in the Brakes Direct International Rally of Queensland.
The Lucky 7 Racing driver will drive a factory-prepared Polaris RZR XP as part of the Australian Side-by-Side Rally Challenge on the narrow and winding forestry tracks of the Sunshine Coast.
Slade will drive the second factory Polaris Racing machine, team-mate to regular driver and rally legend Cody Crocker.
The field of Side-by-Side all-terrain racers will be part of the weekend’s rally action, also featuring rounds of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, Bosch Australian Rally Championship, Australian Classic Rally Series and Queensland Rally Championship.
Slade, currently is eighth in the V8 Supercars Championship standings, says he is looking forward to the change of scenery.
“It looks like a hell of a lot fun,” Slade said.
“The only other thing I have driven on dirt is a sprinter in Adelaide a couple of years ago, but I love racing in general and I’m looking forward to being involved in the whole event.
“The Polaris RZR is quite a fast machine. I’ve watched a lot of footage from the last round in Western Australia and they look quite fun.
“I guess the biggest difference is going to be understanding how a rally runs – but I’ll lay it all on my co-driver.”
Slade and Crocker’s main rivals in Queensland will include former World Rally Championship Hyundai factory driver Michael Guest, driving the Pirtek-backed Can-Am Commander.
The Brakes Direct International Rally of Queensland will be held on May 25-27.
