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Stirling Stages - 2003 |
Photos by Rob
Woodgate & Paul Bendotti |
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Young charger Craig Bignell and the experienced
defending Champion Rob Herridge are going head to head in the final round of the Western
Australian Rally Championship on Saturday 25 October. Bignell and co-driver Joan Percival
broke through for their first State Championship win at last month's Sotico Safari rally.
Promising stage times, particularly at the Lewana Stages Rally in May, have proven
Bignell's rise to the challenge of driving the older Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution at an
unbeatable pace.
Herridge and co-driver Bill Hayes changed to the Subaru Impreza WRX for the 2003 season
and have had mixed fortunes. A gearbox problem slowed them during the first heat of the
Respect Yourself Forest Rally yet they managed to win the second heat. A win at the Lewana
Stages rally and a second place at the Experts Cup rally in Collie put them in the
Championship lead. Then while attempting to chase down Bignell at the Sotico Safari Rally
Herridge had an uncharacteristic off road excursion, later in the day a flat tyre dropped
Herridge to sixth place and set up a tie for the Championship lead. As sponsor of the
'Maximum Motorsport' stage Herridge will be looking to take the stage win and the
Championship.
As the final round of the Championship the Stirling Stages will definitely decide the
outright Champions. The pace will be hot with 3 former State Champions; John Macara,
Tolley Challis and Dennis Dunlop all in Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions fighting for the
final podium spot in the Championship. Michael Anderson (Lancer Evo) and Alex Stone (WRX)
have had their share of downs this season but they can never be crossed off the list while
the car is going.
There will be plenty of class action as well with cars contesting either the State
Championship, the Clubman Cup series or both. Chris Gerdei (Escort Mk2) is making a big
impression in the Clubman Cup series for two wheel drive cars and is expected to do well
with 3 runs around the spectator friendly Coates Hire / Westrac course near Benger on the
South Western Highway.
Promoters of the event the West Australian Car Club welcome spectators at 1pm, 4:40pm and
9pm at the South West Touring Car Club's Autocross track, turn into Sandalwood Road from
the South Western Highway 3 Km South of Benger.
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For information Mob. 0419 201 477 or Ph. 9472 5885 or www.wacarclub.com.au
Paul van der Mey
Public Relations Officer
West Australian Car Club
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| Rally at a Glance |
Details
from
|
www.wacarclub.com.au |
| Name of
event |
Stirling
Stages |
| Date of
event |
25 October
2003 |
| Organising
club |
West
Australian Car Club (Inc.) |
| Clerk of
Course |
Jeff Seaton |
| Event
contact |
Ann
Skipworth Tel: 94557287 (Competitors and Officials)
Paul van der Mey Tel. 9472 5885 (Media)
|
| Entries
open |
Thursday
29th September 2003 |
| Entries
close |
Thursday
16th October 2003 at 8.00 pm |
| Entry
fee |
$440 State
Round,
$220 Clubman Section (Incl. GST) |
| Event
starts |
Benger
Autocross Circuit, 1300 hrs |
| Finishes |
Benger
Autocross Circuit |
| Scrutiny
date & location |
23rd
October from 1800 to 2100 hrs |
|
Dept of
Transport, Murray Rd, Welshpool |
| Booking
in Control |
At Entrance
to the Assembly Area, Middle of Autocross Circuit.
|
| Booking
in Opens |
12:00 hrs
on 25th October 2003 |
| Booking
in Closes |
12:30 hrs
on 25th October 2003 |
| Spectator
Information |
Spectator
point at Benger Autocross Circuit (Service Park).
The cars will run this course Three times :
SS1 prior to service 1,
SS6 prior to service 2, and
SS11 prior to finish. |
| Service
Points |
Autocross
Course, Benger |
| Event
Stats |
State:
Approx. 288.07 km with 126.10 kms competitive
(11 Stages) |
|
Clubman:
Approx. 144.74 kms with 63.62 kms competitive
(6 Stages) |
| Stirling Stages 2002
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