SARC2010: Who is in, who is out?

It is shaping up to be an extremely exciting and competitive South Australian Rally Championship in 2010. We look at who is in and out of the 2010 championship, and update you on all the rumours for later in the year.

IN: Declan Dwyer
Previous SARC Champion Declan will be back together with 2009 SARC Champion Claire Ryan in his trusty DNA Rallysport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III for this year’s SARC after a year on the sidelines. Declan has ‘put the band back together’ for 2009, with wife Amanda returning to manage the team, and Jay, Rohan, Ty and Ashley helping to keep the car running.

DNA Rallysport’s goal for 2010 is to have a reliable and safe year, with results being a secondary focus. Considering Declan’s previous results, there is no doubt this team will be at the pointy end of results in 2010!

Running on a small budget, the team will again receive wonderful support from Rallygraphix, Detex Security, RaceCam.com.au In Car Camera Systems and Tyre Power Blackwood.

IN: Nick Hancock
Nick will be competing in the full SARC in the ex-Josh Doyle Mitsubishi EVO 3. He has been really quick at Walky Park in 2009 and with a 13th and 9th position finish at Rally SA last year in his first and only SARC outing he is one to watch in 2010.

IN: Stephen Mee
After a layoff due to moving from Canberra to Adelaide in mid-2007, Stephen is looking at returning to active competition in the 2010 SARC.

His yellow Mazda Familia was totally refreshed during the layoff with new paint, engine internals, turbo, sundry items and a new gearbox.

His most recent trial was the 2009 National Capital Rally in Canberra, where the car was trailered over only to do 2 stages before the heat and stress caused a gearbox failure, ripping teeth off 1st gear and punching the main shaft through the casing.

Stephen has previously competed with his wife Fiona McCubbin-Mee, but for 2010 is on the lookout for a new co driver, hopefully competing in Clubman and/or SARC events.

Not a fan of tarmac, Stephen will more than likely get his officiating points at this event and proceed from there, attempting to get to each round. He as yet is sponsorless, but has secured support from Total Traction Services and Snap-On Fyshwick in Canberra, as well as Mark from Exhaust Technology in Adelaide.

OUT: Andrew Gooley
Andrew will be taking the year off from the SARC to spend more time with family with first baby due in mid-April.

Will probably do a couple of Walky Park rally sprints and spend a bit of time with some of the up and coming WACC members.

If the Rally SA press release from December 2009 is any guide though it looks like there may be a Super Special Stage in the heart of Adelaide. If this is the case then may well feel the urge to bring the WRX out of the shed and break its year off. An Adelaide SS would be too hard to resist and would be great for the extra exposure for our sponsors and supporters. "Corporate focus shifting to Adelaide, Angaston, the service park and a major spectator point at Mt Crawford - reworked from 2009" - Will Ivar and his team get it sorted for 2010? Only time will tell.

Many thanks to Andrew Gooley, Declan Dwyer and Stephen Mee in compiling this article.