Entries for the third round of the 2024 Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) season are starting to build with a number of crews already entered for the Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland.
Leading the entry list so far are reigning champions Harry Bates and Coral Taylor, who head into Queensland having won the opening two rounds of the 2024 season, and their Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia teammates Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin, with Queensland being the duo’s first Australian round in their new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car.
The ARC Junior Cup will also host an exciting battle in Gympie with Mitch Garrard entered for his second round of the season, and Molly Spalding locked in for her first appearance of the year.
Having missed the opening two rounds of the season, the South Australian will contest the remaining four rounds in the hopes of winning the ARC Junior Cup alongside her regular co-driver Matt Dillon.
“The plan is to do every round for the rest of the year, starting with Queensland, which will be my first time there,” Spalding said.
“I hear the roads up there are brilliant, so I am keen. It’s been a long off season, and I have done a few bits here and there, but I am keen to get in the car and find my feet quickly.
“It will be tough as we have some good competition in the Cup, with Mitch already confirmed and Jaidyn Gluskie expected to enter. I believe all three of us are in a Subaru RS, which will be good for some side by side comparisons.
“We raced against Mitch in the South Australian Rally Championship, and it was close between us, but he has been pushing it lately and rallying everywhere so he will be honed in.
“All in all, we are really looking forward to the event, with good cars and good parity. Absolutely keen to get back out there and get my season underway.”
In what is a big boost for her hopes for a good start, Spalding has also acquired Queensland business Coolum Motors/CRD Tech as a sponsor for the event.
Entries for the event are still being accepted and can be completed via the Motorsport Australia Member Portal, with interested crews having until 11:59pm AEST on Friday, 14 June to register.
The Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland takes place in Gympie, Queensland on 28-30 June.
Feature Photo: Mitch Garrard in action during the Rally of Canberra. Photo: CarsMosport
