West Australians Mat Cherry and Kim Ledger have taken out the prestigious teams championship of the Alphera Dutton Rally in Queensland last weekend in an incident-packed weekend. The three day rally saw last years Series winners Notaras/Arthur have to pull out on day one with clutch problems, NSW winners Berry/Newman damaging their car on the Saturday night special stage in front of thousands of spectators, and Day 1 and 2 leaders Muller/Pitman breaking a drive shaft two stages from the finish.
“ The car didn’t miss a beat all weekend, and Mat drove the car brilliantly. ”
Cherry, whose family owns the AHG Driving Centre in Perth, and Ledger, an automotive engineer and father of actor Heath Ledger, were ecstatic with the win, which will now give them a fighting chance to take out the National Series, with the final event in Victoria in just seven weeks time.
“I was hoping for a top ten finish, but to take out the win is just unbelievable,” an excited Ledger said on Sunday night. “The car didn’t miss a beat all weekend, and Mat drove the car brilliantly.”
Cherry also took out the coveted Drivers Championship, whilst Queenslander Shane Topping was the top co-driver in a Subaru WRX. New South Welshman Trent Kennedy won the driver’s class handicap in a Nissan Skyline, and ARC star Spencer Lowndes took
home the co-drivers class handicap in a Mini Cooper S JCW.
Seventy cars lined up for the popular round of the four-state series, which included over 20 different marques from a 1977 Ford Escort – the oldest car in the field, to a 2004 Ferrari 575 Maranello- the most expensive. Beginning in Warwick, regional QLD, the rally saw driving rain on day one, which made things interesting for drivers in the tarmac series. Day two, however- saw the clouds disappear for a perfect Queensland day as drivers headed for tests at Queensland raceway and drag strip, and then onto the Saturday night stage in Southport’s Broadwater carpark, which was a highlight for spectators.
The man at the helm, National Director Anthony Moss, said the weekend was a compete success, and will now make the series very interesting.
“There are now no fewer than five teams who can take out the series,” Mr Moss said. “We have had a new winner for each round this year, so things will be very interesting in seven weeks time for the Victorian round.”
** For more information, full results and additional photos contact Anthony Moss (0414 333 090 // amoss@duttonrally.com), National Event Director, Alphera Dutton Rally National Series or visit the event website: www.duttonrally.com.
