Author: Forest Rally

Photo: Harry Bates contests the 2018 Make Smoking History Forest Rally. Credit: CMR Photographic

A new look field and changes to the forest stages will create excitement for crews and spectators at the upcoming Make Smoking History Forest Rally to be held in Western Australia from 5 -7 April.

Exciting changes to the CAMS Australian Rally Championship (ARC) introduced over the off-season including; new formats for several events, an increased online presence and most importantly the return of some former ARC heavyweights to the series have set the scene for a huge year in the Championship which officially gets underway in WA at the Make Smoking History Forest Rally.

The recent bush fires which devastated parts of the state forest and pine plantations around Nannup caused last minute stage changes for organisers, with two planned new stages having to be abandoned and a new stage created.

Continue reading “Make Smoking History Forest Rally ready to excite as opening round of CAMS Australian Rally Championship”

The second round of the CAMS Onslow Contracting WA Rally Championship has been run in the state’s South West this weekend with more than 30 crews contesting the Make Smoking History Forest Rally.

Maximum Motorsport’s Brad Markovic and Toni Feaver recorded a clean sweep of the event winning 13 stages and both Heats to claim a comfortable victory.
Continue reading “Brad Markovic and Toni Feaver dominate state class at Make Smoking History Forest Rally”

More than 50 crews from across Australia have this weekend contested the Make Smoking History Forest Rally.

The Make Smoking History Forest Rally was the second rounds of the CAMS Australian Rally Championship®, the CAMS Onslow Contracting WA Rally Championship and the WA Clubman Masters and Clubman Cup.

The event, was held in Busselton and Nannup in the South West region of Western Australia.

View full results list

FULL Results List

Eli Evans has broken his CAMS Australian Rally Championship (ARC) drought winning the Make Smoking History Forest Rally in Nannup, Western Australia today.

The win is the first for Evans since the Scouts Rally SA in 2015, the first for the Tankformers driver since pairing with a new co-driver Ben Searcy at the end of 2017 and provisionally puts Evans/Searcy into the ARC points lead after two rounds.
Continue reading “Evans breaks Australian Rally Championship drought and slides into series lead”

Eli Evans and Ben Searcy (Skoda Fabia R5) have won the 2018 Make Smoking History Forest Rally, the second round of the CAMS Australian Rally Championship.

CAMS Australian Rally Championship
1. Eli Evans/Ben Searcy – Skoda Fabia R5
2. Steve Glenney/Andy Sarandis – Subaru WRX STI
3. Molly Taylor/Malcolm Read – Subaru WRX STI

Continue reading “PROVISIONAL RESULT: Eli Evans and Ben Searcy win Make Smoking History Forest Rally”

Eli Evans and Ben Searcy have continued their form from yesterday leading Heat Two of the Make Smoking Hisory Forest Rally by more than 30 seconds with three stages remaining.

Starting the day in second following the Trade Hire Busselton Long stage held last night, Evans and Searcy started where they left off yesterday gaining more than 13 seconds on the opening forest stage.

“We’ve made a few mistakes this morning but the times are still fast so we’ll try and keep it neat,” Evans said. “We’ve got a 30 second buffer so if we give away a little bit of time we’ve still got plenty up our sleeve no mistakes, it’s only a spin wide or something like that and you can lose the lead so we just have to stay focused and keep doing what we are doing,” Evans said.
Continue reading “Evans and Searcy lead Make Smoking History Forest Rally with three stages remaining”

A dominant display by Eli Evans/Ben Searcy has seen the team take Heat One honours at the Make Smoking History Forest Rally in Nannup, Western Australia this afternoon.

Steering the Skoda Fabia R5 rally car for the first time in an Australian event Evans jumped out of the blocks this morning taking just under 40 seconds off his rivals in the opening two forest stages of the day.

“The roads here suit aggressive driving styles and I like to drive aggressively,” Evans said. “I’m more comfortable when I’m sideways than when I’m straight so it’s working for us now,” he continued.
Continue reading “Eli Evans/Ben Searcy dominate Heat One of Make Smoking History Forest Rally”

The township of Nannup has come alive with crews currently making any necessary changes to the cars contesting the Make Smoking History Forest Rally during the Heat One midday service.

After six stages Eli Evans/Ben Searcy are currently dominating the field of CAMS Australian Rally Championship contenders ahead of nearest rivals Steve Glenney/Andy Sarandis and Glen Raymond/Kathryn Catford.

It’s been a mixed morning for the Skoda Fabia R5 cars that are making their debut on Australian rally roads here in Western Australia.

Evans/Searcy took the opening forest stage by 15 seconds, the second by close to 24 seconds and have continued to stretch their lead throughout the day. However, Adrian Coppin/Erin Kelly suffered a suspected broken steering arm following heavy contact with a rock on SS4.

Continue reading “Evans in control of Heat 1”

The Make Smoking History Forest Rally has roared into life in Busselton this evening with the running of the Trade Hire Busselton Super Special Stage.

Following two runs of the 2.71 kilometre tarmac stage it is tight up the top of the time-sheets with only 1.1 seconds separating the top crews.

Harry Bates and John McCarthy (Toyota Yaris) lead the CAMS Australian Rally Championship competitors, followed by Steve Glenny/Andy Sarandis (Subaru WRX STI) and Eli Evans/Ben Searcy (Skoda Fabia R5).
Continue reading “Bates and McCarthy leading Make Smoking History Forest Rally”

For the second year in a row the Evans Motorsport run Mini Cooper AP4 has not travelled to Western Australia with the team for the Make Smoking History Forest Rally.

The Evans Motorsport team of Eli Evans and Ben Searcy will now join Adrian Coppin/Erin Kelly in steering a Race Torque Engineering Skoda Fabia R5 when the Forest Rally, round two of the CAMS Australian Rally Championship, kicks off in Busselton on Friday night, 27 April.

“Preparation after our third place at Eureka Rally has been extensive. Athough third place is a nice net of points, it’s not where myself and the team want to finish in the MINI Cooper AP4,” Evans said.
Continue reading “Late car change keeps Eli Evans in Make Smoking History Forest Rally”