Dalton dominates Ada River Rally after flawless drive
Shamrock Motorsport has delivered a masterclass at the Ada River Rally, sweeping all three heat wins to secure a commanding outright victory.
The win puts Richie Dalton and Mac Kierans back in the lead of the Shamrock Haulage New South Wales Rally Championship, having now won seven of the nine heats run this year.
Although he's not usually a fan of non-pacenoted rallies, Dalton, in his Toyota GR Yaris AP4, found the Victorian gravel incredibly fast and flowing, allowing him to immediately extract maximum pace from his AP4 car.
"They are incredible roads," Dalton said. "There wasn't a bump in the road, and it was actually very easy to read.
"It was one of the best weekends we've ever had – just really good stages and so relaxed."
While the GR Yaris AP4 ran flawlessly all weekend, the event was not without its heart-stopping moments. The second pass of stage three, run under the cover of darkness on deteriorating roads was tough as their lights failed to adequately illuminate the road ahead.
"That stage was horrifically bad in the dark. Our lights were shining straight at the ground," Dalton explained.
"You couldn't see far ahead. We started locking up and having moments because you couldn't see the corners ahead. You’re turning in and thinking, 'we're in a tree'. We were lucky to get through it."
To combat the tricky, muddy conditions, the team bolted on a newly sourced Michelin wet-weather tyre. The grip level stunned the outright winner, who managed to stretch a single set across six demanding stages.
"They were brilliant — the best I've ever driven on," Dalton noted.
"Even in the dry, I felt a lot more committed. The braking capability was really good, and the lateral grip was unbelievable."
Dalton was quick to credit the massive behind-the-scenes logistical effort from his Bates Motorsport mechanics, who drove overnight from Canberra to prepare and service the vehicle.
"They all work incredibly hard. Moving to this team is still the best decision I've made in rallying. They give you the best possibilities, the best setup, the best everything.
"The car was faultless. You're steering with one hand, shifting with the other, and it just turns in. These cars are so good."
Dalton's NSW Rally Championship lead is two points, ahead of another former state champion, Tony Sullens, who had held the lead prior to the Ada River event.
The ever-consistent Josh Redhead is third in the title race, and while he's some way behind the leading pair, a win at the final round would put him in title contention.
Only November's Rally of Oberon remains on the state championship calendar, making the season finale a two-way shootout between Dalton and Sullens.
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