Season high ARC field for Gippsland Rally 

Round 4 of the Australian Rally Championship (ARC) heads to southeast Victoria this weekend for the Middle of Everywhere Gippsland Rally, with 37 national crews set to battle it out.

Alongside the Victorian Rally Championship round with 26 entries, there’s 63 crews that will set off at Heyfield tomorrow morning for 188km of timed stages.

Starting in the forests northwest of Heyfield, Saturday also has the crews heading up through Walhalla, Toombon and Glenfalloch, before Sunday sees them traverse north of Briagolong and Stockdale, with the final Power Stage set to be held at the Boisdale Hill Climb track.

Last round in Queensland saw national and international rally veteran Scott Pedder – alongside co-driver Glenn Macneall – set the title fight alight with a storming win.

That brought the deficit to leaders Harry Bates and Coral Taylor to just 11 points, as the Skoda crew looks to take it up to the dominant Toyota pairing, who last year took out the Vic round on their way to the overall title.

Bates and Taylor have been busy with pre-event testing for the Gippsland Rally in the ACT. Image: Jack Martin Photography

With two endurance legs over the two days, the event will also see the debut round for the one-make Subaru WRX ARC Cup, with three entries to provide the competition’s kickstarter.

There is also a visitor from Japan, Toyota junior Nao Otake, as he begins Toyota’s push to champion closer ties between the Japanese Rally Championship and the ARC.

“This event promises to deliver plenty of action for crews, fans and officials alike and we can’t wait to get this one started,” Adrian Coppin, Motorsport Australia General Manager Motorsport & Events, said. 

“With the championship battle heating up, there will be a lot to play for and so too in the various Cup battles which are all still up for grabs. We can’t wait to get the rally started.”

The weekend festivities start today in nearby Sale with the BSR Automotive Rally Show at 4pm AEST.

To check out the full entry list and to get all your spectator information, visit the ARC website via this link, and stay tuned into AUTO ACTION over the weekend for all your Gippsland Rally updates.

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