Back-To-Back Wins In 2024 For Defending Champion

June 17, 2024

2024 ARC Round 2 - Forest Rally, Nannup Forest, Nannup, Western Australia , Australia. 19 May, 2024.

Reigning Australia Rally Champion (ARC) Harry Bates has made a remarkable comeback from severe suspension damage to clinch a dramatic victory in the weekend’s Forest Rally in Western Australia.

Bates and co-driver Coral Taylor overcame the setback caused by hitting a hole on the opening stage, recovering to fourth in Saturday’s heat with the support of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Australia (TGRA) team led by his father and four-time ARC champion Neal Bates.

Fortune swung the other way on Sunday when rally leader Scott Pedder’s car suffered the misfortune of a broken piston, enabling Bates to seal victories in both the second heat and overall – giving him back-to-back wins in the first two rounds of the 2024 championship.

While Bates and Taylor extended their championship lead in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, his brother Lewis and co-driver Anthony McLoughlin scored valuable points, posting the fastest time in the rally-ending power stage and second place in the tightly contested second heat.

Harry Bates quote: “This weekend was a real team effort. After my opening stage mistake, the Neal Bates Motorsport team put in a massive effort to give us a good car and – with our backs to the wall – we were able to record some fast times. The unpredictable nature of rallying reared its head again on Sunday, which enabled Coral and I to take the weekend victory, with commiserations to Scott. We always love coming to Perth because this rally leads the way in terms of event organisation.”

Lewis Bates quote: Anthony and I were delighted to win the power stage, which was the highlight of the rally for us. As the weekend progressed, I gained more and more confidence on the tricky marbles you encounter on this rally, leading to a solid result.”

Neal Bates quote: “It was a tough weekend, but you have to be happy when you face setbacks and you still end up winning the rally.”

The third round of this year’s six-event championship will be Rally of Queensland on 28-30 June.

FOREST RALLY RESULTS (provisional):

HEAT 1:
4^th: Harry Bates
7^th: Lewis Bates

HEAT 2:
1^st: Harry Bates
2^nd: Lewis Bates

OVERALL:
1^st: Harry Bates
5^th: Lewis Bates

DRIVER STANDINGS:
1^st: Harry Bates & Coral Taylor, 147
2^nd: Lewis Bates & Anthony McLoughlin, 118
3^rd: Alex Rullo & Steve Glenney, 109
4^th: Scott Pedder & Glenn Macneall, 104
5^th: Eddie Maguire & Zak Brakey, 103

…ends/