Field set for Forest Rally

A solid field is expected to take on the Australian and Western Australian Rally Championship double header, the Forest Rally.

A total of 33 crews will chase ARC honours, while an additional 26 local combinations will chase WA Rally Championship and Clubman success in the May 17-19 event.

Leading the way like usual will be the two factory backed Toyota Gazoo Racing stars Harry Bates/Coral Taylor and Lewis Bates/Anthony McLoughlin.

Bates/Taylor are on a high after dominating the opening round in Canberra, winning every single stage with the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.

Still driving the older spec Yaris GR AP4, Bates/McLoughlin will be determined to respond out west, fresh from a special maiden experience steering a Rally2 car alongside the WRC at the Rally de Portugal this weekend.

Leading the way looking to stop the Toyota charge will be home hero Alex Rullo.

The former Supercars youngster has since turned his attention to rallying with great success with co-driver Steve Glenney.

Rullo took his maiden ARC podium at the Rally of Canberra and hopes to find even more silverware on home soil, having won the opening round of the Western Australian Rally Championship, the Winvale Stages Rally.

His father Peter will share a Skoda with James Marquet, another local to watch are Dylan King and Abbey Hayes, who form a dark horse for a good result in the DJK CIVIL Toyota Yaris AP4.

Drivers looking to break Toyota’s dominance, including Scott Pedder/Glenn Macneall and Eddie Maguire/Zak Brakey.

A 17-car field has entered for the ARC Production Cup including opening round winners Molly Taylor and Andy Sarandis, plus local hope Craig Rando and Scott Beckwith.

The likes of Dave Thompson/Matthew Sanders and Peter Dimmock/Paul Bennett have cross entered in the 2WD Classic Cup in addition to the ARC Production class.

Forest Rally Clerk of Course Ross Tapper said it is a strong turnout for a special edition.

“We are extremely pleased to have a field of more than 30 ARC crews with up to 14 of them coming from interstate,” Tapper said.

“Not only do we have a big entry list, but it is an extremely strong field and there is a handful of drivers who could win the rally, so it will be quite entertaining from a sporting point of view.

“This is the 40th year since the rally became the WA Round of the ARC, having run continuously since 1985, with only COVID-19 stopping us running as an ARC round in 2020.

“With that said, we have once again refreshed the event with a Rally Show and Ceremonial Start at the Busselton Jetty Foreshore on the Friday night and a shake-up of stages in Nannup on Saturday.

“We are proud to bring something new to the event around the brilliant Nannup plantation roads, which will undoubtedly bring exciting action to the region.”

The 2024 Forest Rally will take place interestingly on the same weekend as the Supercars annual trip to Perth on May 17-19.

SEE FULL ENTRY LIST HERE

Image: Cars Mosport

Don’t forget the latest issue of Auto Action will be available via subscription here or at selected outlets. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.

Podcast: The untold Senna stories | New look Supercars calendar and more

It is 30 years since Ayrton Senna died at Imola, and our crew goes behind the scenes with untold stories. Plus, where will Adrian Newey go, and is he worth €150 a year?

Plus, NASCAR, IndyCar, WEC, IMSA and Motorsport Australia dump $1m!