2WD team makes history

A Busselton rally driver and co-driver made history at the weekend, taking the CAMS Onslow Contracting Western Australian Rally Championship title.

Tom Wilde and co-driver Madelin Kirkhouse competed in the 53rd Carrington’s Traffic Services Safari Rally in Chidlow, east of Perth, on Saturday. The pair are the first 2WD car competitors to win a championship title at the rally in 30 years.

With just 35 points separating the top three vying for the title, the pair competed in their 1993 Honda Civic and finished the rally in third place, winning the outright championship title by just two points.

Wilde said he was pleased to make it to the finish line and was happy to take out the outright title.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” he said.

“We knew what we had to do to win so we tried to slow it down and not damage the car too much where we could.

“It was nice to be able to do it with Maddy because we’ve put in so much hard work throughout the year and it’s paid off.”