The MRF Tyres Boddington Rally is expected to see roughly 40 competitors tackle a 94-kilometre stretch in an effort to be first to cross the finish line next month.
Held as the third round of the Onslow Constructing Western Australian Rally Championship, the event promises to challenge the skills of both driver and co-driver across the first weekend of June.
Course clerk Wendy Walker said the course will run in reverse order to last year’s event, which would provide a challenge for repeat competitors.
“There are three stages that will be run twice, in the reverse direction from last year, so competitors’ notes are unlikely to provide much of an advantage,” she said.
“The roads are in excellent condition. Last year we introduced a completely new and intense route.
“The longest straight is 300 metres and there’s not many of those. There’s a very busy 26 kilometres ahead after SS2. Average speeds for all three stages are quite low, so some of the two-wheel drives may get among the outright placings.”
A two-wheel drive picked up the win in round one of the championships, with Tom Wilde and co-driver Madelin Kirkhouse racing their 1993 Honda Civic to the win.
The duo are leading the standings for both outright championship driver and co-driver.
In second, fifty points behind, is Maximum Motorsport’s John O’Dowd and co-driver Kenneth Sheil who no doubt will be trying to close the gap in their 2008 Subaru WRX STI.
In third place trailing by just one point is Stephen Oxley and co-driver Michael Wood in a Subaru WRX STI.
Wilde and Kirkhouse also lead the two-wheel drive championship.
In second place, 62 points behind, is Razvan Vlad and his co-driver Daymon Nicoli sits second to Kirkhouse.
Vlad and Nicoli were not able to compete in the Boddington event last year.
“I’ve heard a lot of about it and I’ve watched someone’s in-car footage from last year. I’m quite excited,” he said.
“We’ve had a really good battle with Tom (Wilde) so far this year and I hope we can continue.
“The car is okay and we are in a good position.” Vlad said.
The Boddington Rally has a double-dip spectator point just five minutes from town where spectators are able to view the cars in action.
Breakfast will be served from 8.30am through to the presentation after the last car.
The first car will start approximately 12pm and finish before sunset.
Visit rallywa.com/rallyevents/mrf-tyres-boddington-rally/ for more information.
