AutoAction
FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE SIGN UP

TASSIE DUO TAKE OUT ADELAIDE RALLY

Tassie duo take out Adelaide Rally - Image: Supplied

By Bruce Williams

Tasmanian duo Eddie Maguire and Zac Brakey have taken the honours in the 2021 edition of the Shannons Adelaide Rally.

In doing so the pair picked up $20,000 for their efforts over the four days of the event, $10,000 for the outright win and a further $10,000 for the new Adelaide Tourist Trophy for the highest-placed interstate team.

Maguire was consistently fast in his Dodge Viper ACR, taking the lead from the outset and maintaining it throughout the event against a relentless pursuit from Jeff Morton (NSW) and Daymon Nicoli (WA) in a Porsche GT2RS, who finished less than half a second behind after four days.

Maguire started Day 4 strongly, winning the iconic Mt Lofty stage by just 0.4 seconds from Morton. The Aldgate Valley stage gave a glimmer of hope to Morton, who won the stage while Maguire posted his worst stage result of the event, losing nine seconds to the New South Welshman to finish in tenth place.

The Tasmanian responded with another stage win and although Morton closed out his event with two more stage wins, the Porsche driver had to settle for second place.

Third place went to Angus Kennard (NSW) and Ian Wheeler (TAS), who maintained their podium position through the event in their Nissan GTR and created an interstate lockout of the Modern Competition podium.

In Classic Competition, Jack Monkhouse (NSW) again stamped his authority on the course. He was rarely bested across the event, and with local navigator Chloe Bojko went on to win his category by four minutes.

Monkhouse’s time in his 1973 Datsun 180B placed him comfortably fourth outright in what was a highly entertaining performance, all the more impressive for being his first tarmac competition, and in a car built for gravel.

Andrew Booker and Neil Branum brought their 1984 Nissan Skyline home in second place, beating Monkhouse on the Aldgate Valley stage by half a second in the process.

Tom Dermody and Ryan Preston filled the final podium position, their 1973 Ford Mk1 Escort.

The Heritage Trophy handicap competition featured the same three Classic teams in a different order, with Booker first, followed by Dermody and Monkhouse.

Modern Competition proved a thrilling final day. Ben Auld and Lucy Barker had held the lead for the first three days in their Porsche GT3 CS, heading into the final day with a 24 second advantage over Geoffrey Olholm and Matthew Sanders in the Supra GTS.

But Olhlolm signalled his intent from the first stage, and won the first four stages to bring the gap down to less than 10 seconds.

Olholm’s stage win on Carey Gully Long 2 catapulted him into the lead by just half a second, enough to force a small error by Auld on the final stage, handing the victory to Olholm and Sanders, with Robert Bryden and Alex Bryden maintaining their third place in the Lotus Exige.

Young local crew Kelly and Rudiger pulled off a surprise stage win on Basket Range 2, improving on their 2020 8th placed debut to finish sixth.

William Coulter and Andrew Colliver finished comfortably in first place in their 1986 Toyota Sprinter AE86, winning the first three stages.

Behind them, Bill Lakstins was trying to reduce a five minute deficit, but Dean Cook and Simon Richards in the 1971 Escort had other ideas, winning the last four stages of the day.

Lakstins’ withdrawal after Aldgate Valley stage left the final podium step open for Greg Cunningham and Rick Jacobs in their HDT-liveried 1976 Torana hatchback.

The Rally concluded with a podium presentation including South Australian Premier Steven Marshall, surrounded by a street party attended by thousands of people in Adelaide.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media FacebookTwitter, LinkedInInstagram and/or weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.