2^nd April, 2002

Busselton ready to rage with rally action

Western Australia’s `Respect Yourself Forest Rally’ roars to life this Friday (April 5), with organisers confident that this year’s event will be the best ever.

Recent changes to rally regulations will ensure closer competition amongst the front-runners and, with a strong entry of top-ranked eastern states and local teams, it's expected to be hotly contested.

However, Ordynski and Stewart are well aware that the season will get tougher rather than easier.

Ten of the rally’s 14 stages will be run in the forest with stage lengths ranging from the short-but-sweet 11.73km ‘Healthway’ (named after the event’s major sponsor, the WA Government body dedicated to promoting healthy living) to the testing 25.51km ‘Brockman’.

“We’ve eliminated sections of the route that got a little cut up last year,” said WACC president Ross Tapper. “The result is a shorter, sprint style event – around 100km each day – run over smoother roads that will give competitors the chance to really show their talents.”

Starting on Saturday 6 April from 10.20am (WST), spectators will have ample opportunity to see the drivers demonstrate their abilities at fully-serviced spectator points within easy reach of the historic timber town of Nannup.

Into the night...
However, the biggest crowds are expected at the start of the rally on Friday night when the cars and crews line up for the Silverstone Busselton Super Stage.

Malaysian tyre manufacturer Silverstone joins the fun this year as naming-rights sponsor of the Busselton Super Stage. Seen at left is Ed Ordynski blasting the Lancer Evo Vi through last year's event.

Run over a 2.4km street circuit on the foreshore of the popular seaside tourist destination, the tarmac Super Stage proved an enormous hit last year with more than 7000 crowding into Barnard Park to enjoy the rally action amidst a carnival atmosphere of free family entertainment.

“Last year was our first ever tarmac stage in Busselton,” said Ross Tapper, “and we learned a lot from it. This year the course is laid out so that you can see every corner. Competitors will get to do two laps of the stage, and with cars the running at close intervals there’ll be plenty of action for spectators.”

There’ll be plenty of action off the track as well as on it with a smorgasbord of free entertainment. A live band will head the bill, along with freestyle motocross demos, drag racers and model car racing. Activities start from 5.00pm (WST), and the WACC is inviting families along to make a night of it.

Not one but two...
Busselton won’t be the only Super Stage venue. The nearby historic town of Nannup will host a 0.85km dash around the perimeter roads of its sports oval on both days of the weekend, with Sunday’s Nannup Super Stage culminating in a champagne-laced presentation ceremony for the eventual winner of the Respect Yourself Forest Rally around noon.

There’ll be plenty to see in Nannup all weekend, as the main street will be closed off to allow rally competitors to service their vehicles between competitive stages.

This is the Respect Yourself Forest Rally’s third year in the WA’s southwest after moving out of Perth and the hills around Mundaring. During that time it has grown in stature and is now regarded as a major regional event and a definite tourism drawcard for the area.

For information on ticketing and Infield Club passes, contact the Respect Yourself Forest Rally Hotline on (08) 9359 1199.