Motorsport Australia Rally Champions reunite for Netier National Capital Rally

Four former RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Champions, and reigning Supercars Champion Shane van Gisbergen, have been confirmed as part of a 55-strong field for the 2022 Netier National Capital Rally.
 
Click here to view the fully entry list, including the Motorsport Australia Rally Champions.
 
Leading the 32 ARC entries, Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia’s Harry Bates and John McCarthy top the list as the reigning 2021 Canberra victors, and are vying for their fifth win (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021). Teammates Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin will feature in the twin GR Yaris AP4, with their sights set firmly on their first career ARC victory.
 
There will be plenty of attention on 2017 and 2021 Supercars Champion Shane van Gisbergen, who is set to make his ARC debut aboard the Red Bull Australia Skoda Fabia R5. Calling the pacenotes will be three-time ARC Champion co-driver Glen Weston.
 
Four-time ARC Champion Eli Evans returns to the Championship aboard his dramatically revamped Mini Cooper AP4, which coincidentally last competed in the ARC in the 2018 edition of the National Capital Rally.
 
Nathan Quinn, 2017 ARC Champion, has stepped up from the White Wolf Constructions Production Cup into an outright, G4-specification Hyundai i20 formerly campaigned by JJ Hatton at Activ Rallysport.
 
2014 ARC Champion Scott Pedder will pick up his ARC career where he left off, returning in his then championship winning Renault Clio. Pedder, alongside Chris Randell, will be vying for Shamrock Haulage ARC 2WD Cup honours.
 
Having spent the last couple of seasons in the Victorian Championship aboard a classic Datsun, and prior in New Zealand’s Rally Championship, Brendan Reeves and Kate Catford have made the stunning switch to a Hyundai i20 R5.
 
There’s a handful of new cars, and some cars that have changed hands in the off season. Significantly is the hotly anticipated Ford Fiesta G4 of Arron Windus.
 
Windus’ 2021 White Wolf Constructions Production Cup winning Subaru WRX will this season be piloted by young gun Taylor Gill.
 
Awaiting his latest specification Ford Fiesta MKII R5 in Europe, AGI Rallysport’s Luke Anear will return to his original 2019 chassis after White Wolf Racing’s Tom Clarke purchased Anear’s 2021 Fiesta R5.
 
After crashing out of 2021’s National Capital Rally in a Mitsubishi Evo, Guy Tyler returns to Canberra with Mitsubishi power – albeit in an unconventional, but a likely fan favourite, Mitsubishi Magna in the Shamrock Haulage 2WD Cup. Naturally aspirated, the Magna will be a unique sound in the forests of Canberra. 
 
2021 Shamrock Haulage 2WD Cup and ARC Junior Cup winner Ryan Williams and Brad Jones return to defend their dual cup titles aboard their trusty Ford Fiesta R2T. 
 
Glendun Group’s Cahal Carey also returns in his reliable Mitsubishi Evo for season 2022, with Glendun backing the 2022 Glendun ARC Junior Cup.
 
Joining the ARC will also be the Motorsport Australia NSW Rally Championship, East Coast Classic Series, and ACT Regional Rally Series.
 
The Seven Network was recently confirmed as the free-to-air partner of the 2022 RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship, with expanded coverage confirmed for the new year. A Friday evening preview programme will premiere on 7plus on 1 April, with Sunday’s EROAD Power Stage to premiere on Sunday evening, and an extended hour-long highlights programme on 7plus and 7mate.

Author: Michael Finger

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