The first time the APRC has visited Australia’s southernmost region, Rally Tasmania and host city Launceston are familiar to the teams who entered the series. A round of their local Australian Rally Championship, four teams added scoring points for the FIA title to their weekend aim.
Contested across 17 special stages covering 222.1km the action took the teams north and east of Launceston. Frosty starts on the Saturday and Sunday mornings added to the challenge with ice an invisible variable for the drivers.
Capably dealing with the conditions all the entered teams returned for the Sunday afternoon ceremonial finish.
Bates finished first with Subaru’s Molly Taylor and Malcolm Read second, Lewis Bates and Anthony McLouglin (Toyota) in third with the Hyundai R5 of Marcus and Scott Walkem fourth.
With a month to the next event, the second round of the Asia Cup heads to more tropical climate of Indonesia for the Rally of Medan, 26 – 28 July 2019.
Rally Tasmania – APRC Round 4 Results
1. H.Bates / J.McCarthy, Toyota Yaris AP4, 2:09:42.9
2. M.Tylor / M.Read, Subaru WRX STI P5, +02:47.7
3. L.Bates / A.McLoughlin, Toyota Yaris AP4, +03:32.4
4. M.Walkem / S.Walkem, Hyundai i20 R5, +10:37.9
Photos: Aaron Wishart
