Returning to Australia for the second time this season, this weekend’s round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), powered by Würth, will decide the Pacific Cup title.
Currently led by New Zealand’s Hayden Paddon, Australia’s Harry Bates has a mathematical chance of tying up the four-round cup chase.
The sixth of eight APRC rounds is being contested at the Eureka Rally across the alluvial and once gold rich lands of Ballarat, in central Victoria.
With two round wins to Paddon and one to Bates, there is a chance Bates could level the score. There is one difference however, Paddon is the sole international entry to the Australian event – in the Walkem brother’s Hyundai i20 R5 car.
Starting late Saturday with a double-run Super Special Stage at the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) the cars then head straight to the overnight park. Sunday’s eight special stages start at 9:29am with the 15.36km Mt Cole test. Journeying west and north for a further three stages the cars return to Beaufort for the mid-morning service break.
Repeating the loop in the early afternoon, the return to the service park is then followed by the 4pm central Beaufort ceremonial finish.
Several prime spectator points include one adjacent to the service park.
Several prime spectator points include one adjacent to the service park.
While the weather is forecast clear for the weekend the concluding winter season will see daily temperatures in the low double-digits.
Photos: Aaron Wishart
