Beer flows in pub that ran dry
Pub With No Beer ready to pull the pints
Pedder bids to upset WRC 2 favourites
Australian champion Scott Pedder is determined to give his home fans something to cheer when he challenges the WRC 2 frontrunners at Coates Hire Rally Australia (10 - 13 September).
Pedder secured the best result of his WRC 2 campaign when finishing fourth in Finland last month and sees his home event as the best opportunity of a podium in his first season in the WRC’s main support category.
“Finland proved we can be competitive against guys with far more experience of both the events and the cars. It’s given me a real boost heading into my home event,” he said.
“We can certainly be in with a chance for a podium here and if we can get into a good rhythm and pace from the start, perhaps we can be challenging for the win. I am probably more determined than I’ve ever been in my entire rally career,” he added.
Pedder will drive the 100th Ford Fiesta R5 built by M-Sport and his stiffest opposition is likely to come from championship leader Nasser Al-Attiyah. The Qatari, two points clear of absent Finn Esapekka Lappi, returns to a Fiesta RRC after driving a Skoda Fabia R5 at the last round in Germany.
Al-Attiyah flew to Australia from last weekend’s Rally of Lebanon, in which he crashed. He arrived in the rally base of Coffs Harbour on Tuesday morning and stepped directly into his recce car at the airport to start practice!
Fourth-placed Yurii Protasov and Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, lying sixth, aim to enhance their title chances while Yazeed Al Rajhi has shown strong pace but has been unable to convert it into top three finishes. All three drive Fiesta RRCs.
In the Production Cup class, Gianluca Linari can regain top spot from the absent Max Rendina. The Italian, driving a Subaru Impreza WRX, faces opposition from Australian Nathan Quinn.
