Price vows to return
The gravel rally debut for Toby Price came to an unfortunate early end, but he vows to return after taking on the Working Dog Rally.
Two-time Dakar Rally winner Price started the Queensland Rally Championship round in Bonalbo last weekend hoping to gain further four-wheel experience in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX alongside Holly Kilbride in his gravel rally debut.
Things started well for Price as he finished second in the opening stage and secured top five results in the next two to sit a strong second overall.
However, unfortunately things literally fell into a hole on Stage 4.
Price “got the entry wrong” on a left-handed gravel sweeper approaching a bridge and missed it all together, with the Lancer getting stuck in a creek.
Toby Price in action at the Working Dog Rally. Image: Red Hot Shotz Sports Photography
Price and Kilbride were the first of 13 retirements from the rally, but the Baja 500 champion vowed to return after the costly mistake.
“I stuffed this one up,” Price admitted on social media.
“Second accident I’ve had in cars and you learn more in a mistake then just getting laps in.
“Was going great till it wasn’t, and I stuffed up and all on me.
“I got the entry wrong and was either going to go two wheels onto the bridge/creek or steer out and try pull the car up.
“But it didn’t work and we slowly went in the creek.
Toby Price sadly got stuck in the ditch. Image: Toby Price Instagram
“All bumpers were still on and attached but not so much after recovery and bottom lower left arm twisted so nothing major.
“Glad Holly and myself were safe and very small car damage.
“Big thanks to On the Brink Motorsport for this chance and he’s said I’ll be back in the seat for another chance which I’m going to be stoked about.
“Not letting this get the better of me, but man rally is cut throat and the biggest thrill you can have. I’m ready for more.”
Whilst Price had looked fast early on, no one was in the same postcode as Clayton Hoy and Alan Stean.
He won the first five stages to build more than a minute and a half on the rest of the field.
It took until Stage 6 for Hoy to be toppled by just 1.2s thanks to Keough’s big effort in Stage 6.
But by Stage 7 Hoy was back to winning ways to extend his advantage to beyond two minutes.
He dominated the final three stages to complete a near-perfect performance.
Hoy and Stean were mighty in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, winning by the commanding margin of 2m46s.
Glenn Brinkman in the Martini liveried Escort.Image: Red Hot Shotz Sports Photography
Next best was Mal Keough, who teamed up with Pip Bennett in an Audi Quattro Sport E2 replica to beat Dakar competitor Glenn Brinkman, who steered a Martini coloured Escort with Jacklyn Hughes.
Keough’s runner-up finish was enough to take the East Coast Classic honours, while Neil Woolley’s Magna claimed 2WD success.
Subaru dominated the Queensland Clubman Rally Series with Luke Sid leading the way while unfortunately there were no finishes in either the Junior of Novice series.
Image: Red Hot Shotz Sports Photography
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