Dalton maintains second place in ARC
Toyota’s all-conquering star, Harry Bates, has won yet another Australian Rally Championship round as Rally Launceston concluded in cold Tasmania.
His GR Yaris ran faultlessly throughout the weekend as he and Coral Taylor took both heat wins and the rally-ending Power Stage.
It was maximum points for him, but it wasn’t without error. He ran wide on a corner in the first running of the Lisle stage and damaged the front of his GR Yaris, but was able to continue on to still win the stage.
The win for stand-in co-driver, Coral Taylor, is her first victory in Tasmania for 13 years. The last was when she was beside Harry’s father, Neal in 2009.
Lewis Bates made it a Toyota one-two in today’s second heat, rectifying his Saturday errors.
He improved his pace right up until the end of the Power Stage where he was at his peak for the weekend, admitting a change in driving style was the catalyst.
Troy Dowel got his second third place of the weekend in what was undoubtedly his best ARC performance in his short career.
He posted his previous best result just a month ago in Western Australia and bettered it again this weekend, showing his turn of speed and consistency.
Richie Dalton finished fourth in heat two, but it was enough to break onto the overall podium.
A spin on each day hampered his speed, but he will maintain his second place in the overall ARC standings.
Rounding out the top five for heat two was Eddie Maguire. The Tasmanian Mitsubishi driver enjoyed his time back in the seat of a gravel rally car.
It had been some time since the multiple Targa Tasmania winner competed in the ARC, but a really strong result should encourage him about future outings.
Sixth place for the heat was Daniel Gonzalez who improved on his position and speed throughout the weekend.
He was just over three minutes off the leader’s pace, more than halving his deficit in comparison to Saturday’s times.
The top 10 was concluded by four Production Cup crews in Bodie Reading, Cahal Carey, Ben Newman and Taylor Gill.
Gill broke a driveshaft in his Subaru on the first stage of the afternoon and subsequently lost a lot of time nursing his car with only two wheel drive.
Ryan Williams clinched his first 2WD Cup win of the season after a faultless drive in his Ford Fiesta R2T.
It was heartbreak for the team in Canberra, but to return at round three and comprehensively win will give the well travelled Queenslanders great hope for the rest of the year.
Dean Ridge’s Citroen completed the heat in 11th and secured points for second in the two-wheel drive class.
Canberran James Dimmock was third behind Ridge in that class and also second in the Junior Cup.
The Australian Rally Championship continues when Rally Queensland returns to Gympie in under a month’s time.
