Rally action promises to be flat-out

The Make Smoking History Forest Rally is set to rev up in Busselton and Nannup, with competitors competing on closed gravel roads in forests surrounding Nannup.

The event is based in Busselton and starts on Friday, April 5, with the Trade Hire Busselton special stage around Barnard Park giving spectators the chance to see the flat-out action up close.

The event then heads to Nannup’s Service Park, where drivers will compete on closed road sections which they have driven only twice in order to make “pace notes”, enabling the co-driver to explain the course to the driver.

In an event they may only see a particular corner four times, with gravel conditions different each lap, making for a challenging event through Nannup Forest.

Spectators are encouraged to attend the free event at both Barnard Park and the Healthway stage in Nannup, where winners will be presented to the crowd at the ceremonial podium finish.

A wide variety of cars will compete, including classics such as Ford Escorts and Datsun 1600s, and more modern turbocharged Mitsubishi Evos and Subaru WRXs, as well as some International “R5” cars.

The 2017 State champion Tom Wilde said the upgraded AP4 and R5 cars were modified rally cars with more power and greater performance.

“The cars are very exciting to watch and sound amazing,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to the event, which only gets better and more competitive each year.”