Rallying will return to Victoria this weekend with the Nissan Car Club Australia to host Sunday's Western Victorian Crane Trucks Valley Stages event in the picturesque Yarra Valley.
It’s a huge entry list for the stand alone Victorian event with 73 crews confirmed to take on the 10 stage rally and complete more than 150 competitive kilometres across the day, adding to the difficulty of acclimatising to rallying after a long layoff.
Although the bumper entry list is headlined by two-time state champion Darren Windus, who has been in fine form in recent times, there will be a number of crews likely to challenge the Subaru WRX pilot.
From Warren Lee, Franco Liucci and Matt Lee to youngster Troy Dowel and the experienced Brendan Reeves, both of whom were scheduled to run in this weekend’s Netier National Capital Rally but withdrew to compete in the Victorian event.
Another dark horse scheduled to ruffle a few features throughout the rally is Luke Sytema, who will be running in the ex-Pirtek S2000.
With all crews looking to finish 2020 on a high, event Clerk of Course Craig Jarvie was excited about what the weekend would bring as the club looks to use the event to springboard into next year.
“We’re all pretty excited to get motorsport activities back underway,” Jarvie said.
“I also think some people would regard returning to motorsport as getting back to some form of normality again.
“We hope there’s not too much red mist and everyone can enjoy a safe event, but the reality is you’re always going to have a couple of non-finishers and you always hope there won’t be too much damage to the person or car.”
As a result of the club working overtime to get the event off the ground, Jarvie acknowledged the work of Motorsport Australia in addition to the event sponsors for the continued support during an interrupted year.
“Motorsport Australia has made it fairly easy, there hasn’t really been any resistance for us to host this event. They’ve been really helpful,” Jarvie added.
“Our sponsors have been really helpful as well. We’ve got plenty of cash giveaways for crews which has been a pretty good result.
“They have all stuck by us and provided more money each year so that’s a pretty good result.”
The Western Victorian Crane Trucks Valley Stages event will be held between Yarra Glen and Healesville on Sunday 29 November.
Events around Australia this weekend
2020 Challenge Bathurst
Yeehah Events Pty Ltd as trustee for Yeehah Events Trust
Mount Panorama, Bathurst NSW
26 – 29 November
BCC Salesyard Dash
Bendigo Car Club Inc
Huntly Livestock Exchange, Huntly VIC
28 November
November Come N Try Motorkhana
Bathurst Light Car Club Ltd
The Quarry, Bathurst NSW
28 November
Skidpan Drift Practice
Drift Cadet
Winton Motor Raceway (Skidpan), Winton VIC
28 November
2020 State Motor Racing Championship Series Round 5
Sporting Car Club Of SA Inc
Mallala Motorsport Park, Mallala SA
28 November
2 Day Dirt
Whitsunday Sporting Car Club Inc
Tonker Park, Whitsundays QLD
28 – 29 November
HSRCA 2020 Summer Festival
Historic Sports And Racing Car Association New South Wales Inc
Sydney Motorsport Park (Gardiner Circuit), Eastern Creek NSW
28 – 29 November
ISLAND MAGIC PEARL 2020
Phillip Island Auto Racing Club Ltd
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island VIC
28 – 29 November
Mt Cotton Hillclimb Goodbye to 2020
MG Car Club of Qld Inc
Gramzow Road, Mt Cotton QLD
28 – 29 November
Netier National Capital Rally
Brindabella Motor Sports Club Inc
Canberra, ACT
28 – 29 November
Bitumen Khanacross
Central Qld Motor Sporting Club Inc
Gracemere Saleyards, Gracemere QLD
29 November
Drift School Level 1 and Level 2
Drift Cadet
Winton Motor Raceway (Skidpan), Winton VIC
29 November
November Khanacross
Bathurst Light Car Club Ltd
John Windsor Motorsport Park College Road, Bathurst NSW
29 November
State Motorkhana Round 4
Mini Car Club Of WA Inc
Tiger Kart Club, Perth WA
29 November
Superkart Races with Modern Regularity
Adelaide Superkart Club Inc
Mallala Motorsport Park, Mallala SA
29 November
SWTCC Motorkhana Round 2 2020
South West Touring Car Club
Bunbury City Speedway, Davenport WA
29 November
Western Victorian Crane Trucks Valley Stages
Nissan Car Club Australia Inc
Yarra Glen, VIC
29 November
2020 Tasmanian Supersprint Championship
Light Car Club of Tasmania
Symmons Plains Raceway, TAS
29 November
29th Historic & Classic Hillclimb
MG Car Club Victoria
Rob Roy Hillclimb, Smiths Gully VIC
29 November