6th
April, 2002
1:50pm
Rally
shortened by bushfire
After consultation with Conservation
and Land Management officials, the organisers of the Respect Yourself
Forest Rally have decided to cancel today’s second Ferndale Special
Stage after a bushfire broke out during the first running of the 22.54
kilometre stage.
Nine competitors completed the stage before a halt was called.
Victoria’s Scott Pedder was the fastest of the nine with a time of 14
minutes 54 seconds which moved him into the overall lead of the rally.
The remaining competitors were awarded a ‘notional’ time of 15 minutes
30 seconds which will be readjusted at the end of the day based on their
performance in the four stages still left to run.
The rally had resumed following a
bushfire which brought a temporary halt to the
event.
In line with the rally’s safety plan all competitors and officials were
evacuated from the area until the fire was brought under control. Although
that did not take long, and
competitors were sent out to Special Stage 4, Ellis 1, to resume
competition before the final decision was made.
Going into the fourth stage Pedder lead the rally 10 seconds ahead of
reigning Australian Rally Champion Possum Bourne and Ed Ordynski in equal
second. Thirteen seconds behind them were Stuart Warren and Spencer
Lowndes.
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