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Bates and Taylor do it again

Bates

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 24 November 2024

Harry Bates and Coral Taylor have defended their Australian Rally Championship crown with victory in the Rally Tasmania finale.

After a strong and consistent campaign, Bates and Taylor were the raging favourites and secured back to back ARC titles with the season finale success.

For the rally win, it was not a simple drive for the #1 as fellow Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia pairing Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin were fast.

Less than a second covered the Bates brothers in stages 11 and 13, but in the end Harry came out on top to put the icing on the 2024 cake.

Bates

Image: Peter Norton EPIC Sports Photography

The fate of the Possum Bourne Memorial Trophy had effectively been wrapped up as early as Saturday and Harry was thrilled.

“Three Championships feels very special, it’s almost surreal the sort of names you’re up there with once you’ve got three,” Bates said.

“It’s been an incredible year, thank you to my amazing team, thanks to Coral Taylor for doing such a great job in the car, and we’re very excited for 2025.”

Whilst the fight for the ARC title was one-sided, the battle to be best of the rest was not.

Little split Lewis Bates and Eddie Maguire with the Toyota driver winning the weekend contest being second in the rally and taking the Power Stage.

However, that was not enough to stop Maguire from securing second in the title race with Zak Brakey.

Bates

Image: Peter Norton EPIC Sports Photography

With Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall out of action with radiator damage, Alex Rullo and Steve Glenney snared the last spot on the Rally Tasmania podium.

It was no sure thing however, as Rullo experienced boost issues in the final stage and limped home with low power.

In the MainFix Production Cup, Clayton Hoy and Erin Kelly continued their commanding pace.

In the Junior Cup, Victorians Mitch Garrad and Taylah Murphy won comfortably, while Jack Monkhouse and Neill Woolley claimed 2WD Classic Cup.

The 2025 Australian Rally Championship kicks off with Rally Canberra on March 21-23.

Image: Peter Norton EPIC Sports Photography

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