Category: Forest Rally

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”

The historic town of Nannup will come to life on April 28 – 29 when the main street once again hosts the service park for the Make Smoking History Forest Rally.

One of the most established events on the CAMS Australian Rally Championship (ARC) calendar the Forest Rally is renowned for the service park in Nannup – a favourite among the national and local crews – as well as the unique ball-bearing pine plantation forest roads that surround the town and provide some of the best rally stages for competitors in the country.

“It’s by far the best Service Park in the whole championship, we close down the main street and to be surrounded by such unique and historic buildings and fabulous café’s makes the whole experience very memorable,” ARC competitor Adrian Coppin said.

Continue reading “Nannup set to play host to Make Smoking History Forest Rally”

In just over two weeks the Make Smoking History Forest Rally (Forest Rally) will roar to life, April 27 -29, and the strength of entries has organisers tipping it will be one of the most hotly contested events in recent years.

A mix of former champions, familiar faces and young guns will take to the forest roads through Nannup and race the electric Trade Hire Busselton Super Special Stage around the Busselton foreshore with 59 crews contesting the Forest Rally. The event is the second round of the CAMS Australian Rally Championship (ARC) and CAMS Onslow Contracting WA Rally Championship (WARC).

Many of the former champions are paired with new co-drivers for 2018 and/or behind the wheels of new generation cars that look and sound the business and are sure to excite fans out in the forest.

Defending Forest Rally Champion Molly Taylor and co-driver Malcom Read are one of the few leading crews who will be coming into the event in the same vehicle as 2017, and will be hoping this will give them the edge for Taylor to take back-to-back victories. Continue reading “Former champions, familiar faces and young guns to line up at Make Smoking History Forest Rally”