New Outback Trial to join Rally Australia

Remember the Redex Trials? If so this might spark your interest. A new event for classic rally vehicles, The Classic Outback Trial, will act as a support event to this year’s Repco Rally Australia covering many of the same stages as the WRC.

The event, to be held from August 30th until September 5th, will be integrated into the overall activities of round 10 of the WRC during in what promises to be an exciting week of motorsport for north-eastern NSW.

The Classic Outback Trial (COT) is being run by the same expert team that staged last year’s 12-day Red Centre to Gold Coast Trial, headed by organiser and former rally competitor Philip Bernadou, former Australian Rally Champion Bob Watson, vastly experienced rally administrator Tom Snooks and leading rally navigator Phil Rainer.

The 3,500km Trial will start in the NSW town of Forbes and travel to Coonabarabran and Casino, before finishing in Tweed Heads. Up to 20 per cent of the course will be competitive, with entrants spending two nights in most location to minimise costs and travel for service crews.

The course will take entrants over at least three of the RRA special stages plus the event’s high-profile public Super Special stage. All COT competitors will additionally be given free entry with special seating to see the WRC cars in action on the RRA Super Special stage.

The COT will finish before WRC competitors, crews and the public at the RRA Service Park on Saturday September 5 and will be followed by an official presentation function.

Vehicles eligible for the COT (subject to CAMS approval) will be Historic Rally Cars built prior to 1981, Classic Rally Cars built prior to 1983, Production Rally Cars built prior to 1996 and station wagon-type Recreational Four Wheel Drive vehicles made prior to 1990, including Turbo Diesel models. Four wheel drive and turbocharged cars are not eligible to compete.