Caltex-backed Toyota rally star Simon Evans has one hand on the championship trophy as he heads into the NGK Rally of Melbourne, round six of the NEC Australian Rally Championship, in the Yarra Valley this weekend.
In 2003, Evans claimed an emotional victory in his home event whilst competing as a privateer. While a victory would be a perfect was to cap off his superb year, this weekend is more about securing the championship rather than chasing the rally win.
The husband and wife combination only needs to finish 18th or better in the opening heat to secure back-to-back titles.
“It was unbelievable to wrap up the championship with a heat win in my home rally last year, ” said Evans.
“To have another opportunity to do it in front of my friends and family is almost surreal, but I’ll take it like any other rally and just go out there and do the job I’ve been doing all season. “
Evans and co-driver wife Sue have been the dominant crew in this year’s championship. After five rounds, the hold a commanding 119 point lead at the top of the points standings over team boss Neal Bates, who can still mathematically win the title.
Bates and long-time co-driver Coral Taylor enter this weekend’s final round with a 20 point buffer over Western Australian privateer Dean Herridge. With Herridge electing not compete in the final round, Bates will ensure a one-two finish for the Caltex-backed Toyota pair.
“It is going to take a miracle for us to win the championship, ” said Bates.
“In all fairness, Simon and Sue have been the benchmark all year and it just wouldn’t be right to see someone else win the championship - even if it was me!
“I am incredibly happy with the progress on the S2000 car this year - if you had told me at the start that I would be second going into the championship finale with the work that we’ve done this year, I would have gladly taken it.
“Wrapping up the manufacturers’ championship last round was a justified reward for all of the hard work that the guys have put in this season.
“The car has been so reliable and there is still so much potential for it - it really is a very rewarding challenge for us at each event and each test session as we try and make it better and better. ”
The rally kicks off with a ceremonial start in Melbourne’s Docklands area tonight
This year’s event will be enhanced by a number of new roads with no stage in the rally retaining its 2006 layout and incorporates two passes of a new super special stage at the Yarra Glen Showgrounds.
The NGK Rally of Melbourne and 2007 NEC Australian Rally Championship will end with a new super special stage at the Don Road sporting complex in Healesville.
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