2009 Styx Valley Rally

[Necx0]

The 2009 Tasmanian Rally series kick into gear on June 13 with the Styx Valley Rally, held in the Styx-Florentine forests north of New Norfolk. Conducted by the 500 Car Club of Tasmania, this is acknowledged as one of the fastest rallies in Australia. A late start to the four-round season means a strong field of competitors are keen for action after a 9 month break.

Defending champion Craig Brooks will be unable to defend last year’s Mt Lloyd win after an enormous crash in February’s Rally Tasmania. This provides a great opportunity for many crews to challenge for a maiden win. The combination’s of Pete O’Reilly/Daniel Willson, Mark Butcher/Jessica Nicholson and Liam Coyle/Cameron Rolls, all have eyes on their first trophy yet will be hard pressed to beat ex state champion Lynn Rattray, fresh from Targa Tasmania and keen to improve on his and co-driver Lindon Hills 2008 second placing. “We have no real expectations but hope to be competitive” said Rattray, “Styx is always very fast and we will have to be switched on going back to gravel after Targa”. The locals will not have it all their own way with a late entry from Victorian Nathan Reeves, brother to Australian Rally Championship regular Brendan Reeves, in a Subaru Sti Spec C.

Trailing those in the turbocharged, all wheel drive rockets will be the 2 wheel drive classes. Whilst unlikely to challenge for outright victory, competition will be fierce for class honours. Former Formula 2 Australian rally champion Lee Petersen recently purchased back the Nissan Pulsar Gti in which he won the championship and along with co-driver James Booker will be the benchmark for others to chase despite a 1 year hiatus from the forests. “I re-purchased the car to have some fun, however I am pretty serious about challenging for the 2 wheel drive title” said Petersen Hot on Lee’s heels for 2WD honours will be Launceston crew Aaron Reader/Scott Murfet in a Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg and debutants Stephen Turner/Anna Flittner in their Ford Falcon XR6.

First car will be flagged away from the New Norfolk Esplanade at 9am with service and lunch held at Maydena before a return to the finish on the Esplanade at approximately 4pm. Spectator information can be obtained at the start location.

[Necx0]

Rattray wins Tassie Opener
The 2009 Styx Valley Rally produced a thrilling start to the 2009 season with Lynn Rattray and Lindon Hills taking victory by 5 seconds from Victoria's Nathan Reeves and Scott Spedding. Heavy recent rains meant the 17 crews entered faced treacherous conditions on the super fast Styx roads. Michael Nicholls and John Morrison rounded out the podium in their first ever gravel rally and 4th outright and first 2 wheel drive was taken by Marcus Walkem and Tim Kulhanek in an impressive display of car control.

The Reeves/Spedding Sti Spec C got off to a bad start with a jump start on special stage 1 leading to a 1 minute penalty dashing their hopes of victory. The stage win was taken by Michael Nichols and John Morrison in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3, not a bad way to begin their rally career. Special stage 2 produced more drama with Rattray/Hills sustaining a puncture costing them almost a minute. Stage 2 also saw the 2 wheel drive favourites Lee Petersen/James Booker end up in a ditch and 17 year old Sam Kirkland's rally end when his engine expired. Petersen/Booker were recovered and went on to set impressive stage times on their way to class victory.

The rain continued to fall as the battle between Reeves and Rattray intensified with both crews using every inch of road to try and find an advantage. Rattray had the advantage of local knowledge but was struggling after pre-event engine computer problems left him down on power. “Lindon and I really had to extend ourselves and commit extremely hard to the corners” said Rattray, “the problems we had before the event really makes the victory sweeter”. Despite missing out by a small margin, Reeves enjoyed his first Tasmanian foray. “They were the best roads I have ever driven, We only decided to do the event a week before but are now going to try and do the whole series”. The next round of the Tasmanian Rally Series is the Hellyer Rally held in the state's north-west on July 18. This will see the crews of Rattray/Hills and Reeves/Spedding again battle it out for outright honours with a large supporting cast in the lower classes.