Pedders Backs No Bull Rally Shootout
The Australian Rally Championship will host a special V8 style top ten shootout prior to the start of the fifth round of the Championship, the Sprint Auto Parts Rally of SA on July 31-August 2.
The Pedders No Bull Shootout will see the top ten seeded ARC competitors fight it out over a special stage in the Mt Crawford Forest with additional ARC points and $1000 prize money up for grabs.
The Pedders No Bull shootout will conduct a timed special stage for which points will be allocated for places from first to tenth on a ten down to one basis and these will be added to the points awarded for each heat to determine the outright winner of the ARC round.
Sponsor Scott Pedder, former ARC competitor and marketing manager of Pedders, says he hopes the additional lure of cash and points will encourage the ARC crews to put on a show and win the money.
"I think it is a fabulous initiative and wish I could take on Simon Evans, Neal Bates, Glen Raymond and the boys, I'll certainly be watching with the cheque book ready," Scott added.
Sprint Auto Parts Rally SA Director, Ivar Stanelis added that the organisers are always looking to add greater interest to the championship by extending viewing opportunities and by generating more excitement.
"I think this initiative will do that, and also provide another interesting story angle for media - especially television," Stanellis added.
The concept has been developed by the ARC to provide crews with increased exposure by giving media a clear message and story about the rally that is about to unfold.
A V8-F1 style "Shootout" will extend opportunities for the media by giving journalists and photographers an opportunity to present hard news for the evening bulletins and national media outlets.
Reigning Australian rally Champion Neal Bates says the Shootout is a great idea and will help to formalize the media day and intensify interest in the rally.
"It is a tremendous idea and will certainly make drivers try a lot harder on media day and will give a true form guide for the rally ahead," said Bates.
The Pedders No Bull Shootout stage will be in addition to the shakedown and VIP rides while all ARC entered crews will be eligible to participate.
The course will be approximately three kilometres in length and will feature good access and visual points for TV, corporate guests and the public.
Crews will be given 30 minutes of untimed practice from 7:15am which will be followed by 15 minutes qualifying in which all participating crews will get two timed runs to determine the start position in the shootout. The fastest qualifier will start last and only the fastest 10 cars from qualifying making it through to the shootout.
Following an official welcome at 9:45am the top ten qualifiers will be announced and the top three drivers will be interviewed ahead of the shootout proper at 10am.
The Pedders No Bull Shootout participants will run at one minute intervals over the three kilometre course which will also feature a spectator point, a split times and commentary to keep media and spectators informed as the stage is completed.
If the Shootout proves a success at the Sprint Auto Parts Rally of SA he event is likely to become a regular feature at every ARC round.
