Neal Bates and co-driver Coral Taylor dominated the classic category in Rally Australia at Coffs Harbour

BATES AND TAYLOR PREPARE FOR STRONG COMPETITION IN ARC FINAL

Australian Rally icons Neal Bates and Coral Taylor are anticipating fierce competition in the final round of the Australian Rally Championship this weekend at Rally Victoria.
The four-time champions are leading the Classic category points tally having amassed a string of victories over the course of the year.
This year marks the second time that Rally Victoria has been run on the Mount Baw Baw forestry roads which covers 200 competitive kilometres over 11 stages, including three new stages added this year.
While the reliability and speed of their modified Toyota Celica RA40 has been a constant throughout 2013, both Bates and Taylor are expecting strong competition.
“This is the final round of the classic championship and it’s probably going to be the most competitive event this year,” Taylor said.
“And while we’ve enjoyed driving this car all year, I don’t think you can ever take away that competitive desire.
“If you come out the other end in front, that makes it even more enjoyable.”
Heavy rain leading up to the event will require careful set-up of the Celica for optimum performance.
“Competitors aside, probably the biggest challenge will be the weather, it’s bucketing down!” Taylor said.
“We’ve had very heavy rain all the way here so we’ll need to pay strong attention to the tyres and suspension.”
Neal Bates said that the wet conditions would probably make it necessary to soften the car’s suspension, allowing the car to “bite” into the road.
“But we’ll just see what the conditions are like and set the car up accordingly.
“When it comes down to it you go by feel; you have to feel what the car is doing then change it to suit,” Bates said.

Written by Alan Zurvas

Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.