Ballarat shines on Saturday

Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia’s Harry Bates and John McCarthy have continued their strong run of form, claiming the opening stages of the Pedders Eureka Rush.

Bates and McCarthy were too strong, narrowly edging out Les Walkden Rallying’s Simon Evans and Bernie Webb who were six seconds behind after two runs of the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) Super Special Stage on Saturday evening.

The rain started to fall as competitors lined up for two runs of the tarmac stage, however a strong crowd was on hand to witness an exciting evening of rallying in Ballarat’s west and soak up the CAMS Australian Rally Championship atmosphere.

In the FIA Asia Pacific Cup, WRC driver Hayden Paddon showed his class and skill in his Hyundai i20 R5, besting Bates, who is also cross-entered in the Asia Pacific event, by 10 seconds.

Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin in the second Toyota Yaris AP4 rounded out the top three, while Subaru do Motorsport’s Molly Taylor and Malcolm Read were disappointed with their tarmac runs, ending the night in fourth – 10 seconds behind Bates.

Luke Anear and Andy Sarandis rounded out the top five in their AGI Sport Ford Fiesta R5.

Stay tuned to on Saturday night and Sunday for all the video reaction and highlights from the Pedders Eureka Rush.

Overall standings after SS2
1. H Bates/McCarthy
2. Evans/Webb +6.1
3. L. Bates/McLoughlin +7.5
4. Taylor/Read +10.5
5. Anear/Sarandis +13.4
6. Hatton/Preston +21.9
7. Calder/Glenney +22.7
8. O’Dowd/Feaver +23.5
9. Lennane/Ramia +57.5
10. Haysman/Arundel +58.0