Respect Yourself Forest Rally 98-03-21

RECORD FIELD FOR FOREST RALLY.

Round two of the 1998 Australian Rally championship 'Super Series ', Western Australia's Respect yourself Forest Rally, has drawn a record number of entries, with no fewer than 82 cars and teams entered for the event.

"It's the biggest turn-out for an ARC (Australian Rally Championship) event in many a long year," said a delighted Ros Tapper, president of the Western Australian Car Club which organises the event.

Twenty-four of the 82 teams entered hail from the Eastern States, and the effort in making the trip accross the Nullabor clearly reflects the esteem the WA event is hled by the Australian Rallying fraternity.

Foremost among the inerstate entries are the reigning Australian Rally Champion 'Possum' Bourne and arch rival Neal Bates.

"With 82 crews there's bound to be plenty of action," said Mr Tapper, "but with a Bourne/ Bates showdown on the cards, rally fans are in for an absolute treat."

The Subaru-mounted Bourneis renowned for his no-holds-barred driving style, while Bates, a four time winner of the Respect Yourself Forest Rally, has his pride at stake after a careless mistake at the opening round of the championship put his all new Toyota Corolla WRC (World Rally Car) into the shrubbery and out of contention.

But while Bourne and Bates' antics are expected to hog the limelight the Respect Yourself Forest Rally has an extremely strong supporting cast. Heading west for the event are Australia's heir apparent, Michael Guest, and a host of 'young guns' out to prove themselves in the new 'World Class' Formula 2 front wheel drive category.

Seeidngs for the event will be announced shortly, but competitors and fans alike will have to wait until the weekend of April 4 and 5 which cars will reign supreme inthe forests of Mundaring, to the East of Perth.

Forest Rally Site: http://dusty.vianet.net.au/forest/