Fro takes NSW Series Lead

[Whitey]

The South Coast of NSW provided the back drop for the third round of the RaceBrakes Sydney NSW Excel Rally Series. 6 NSW-series registered crews mingled in the group of 13 Excels at the event, which included the Hyundai factory team of Mick Gillett and Harvey Smith, along with Queenslanders Justin Sinclair and Rod Patman. In addition, 4 Victorian crews were in attendance, vying for positions in the Hyundai Genuine Parts Victorian Excel Rally Series. Sadly missing from the throng were a few regular NSW Excel names, such as White, Farrant and Artomonov.

This event was also the venue for the inaugural National Hyundai Excel Cup, which was sure to bring out some fierce competition.

Excel competitors enjoyed some local South-Coast hospitality at Bega's Hyundai Hub, Momsen Motors. A group photo shoot was followed by some drinks and sausage sandwiches, prior to the drivers briefing.

Sunday dawned cool but clear, with some overnight rain having fallen further to the south in the forest areas where the stages were to take place. First up was the tough 45km test of Special Stage 1. The crews of Mick Gillett/ Harvey Smith and Dave Roberts/Kate Murphy were quick out of the blocks, setting competitive times, with Gillett the victor by only 4 seconds over the distance. Languishing behind and complaining of a long brake pedal was Horobin, who was 45 seconds off the pace.

After an hour service, Special Stage 2 provided an interesting time for many, including the crew of Gillett/Smith, who stopped for a fellow competitor to render assistance when their car caught fire. They were allocated a time which placed them third on the stage, behind Horobin/Gentleman and Roberts/Murphy. SS3 had Horobin on a charge trying to claw back the time lost on the first stage, but only managing to gain 5 seconds on Gillett/Smith. Brothers Matt and Ben Cullen managed to secure third fastest time on SS3, as Dave Roberts/Kate Murphy suffered from a fuel delivery problem.

SS4 was the final stage of the Race Brakes Sydney Excel Series component of the event, and the penultimate stage of the rally. Gillett once again was the fastest Excel, only one second ahead of Horobin.

This meant that Mick Gillett and Harvey Smith claimed the National Excel Cup, whilst Fro Horobin and Kirrilee Gentleman scored the Race Brakes Sydney NSW Excel Series win. Justin Sinclair and Rod Patman were awarded the Excel "Best and Fairest" award, for travelling all the way from Queensland for the National Excel Cup, and adding to the spirit of camaraderie and goodwill that Excel competition is known for.

The next round sees crews venture toward the Mid-North Coast of NSW, for the Rally of Camden Haven on Saturday 25 July.

As always, thanks to series sponsors:- Race Brakes Sydney, Gary's Motorsport Tyres, Hyundai Genuine Parts and Motographics

Race Brakes Sydney NSW Excel Series Pointscores after Round 3:
Drivers: 1st Fro Horobin 62, 2nd Crazy Dave Roberts 58, 3rd Andrei Artamonov 51
Co-Drivers 1st Kirrilee Gentleman 44, 2nd Ben Cullen 41 3rd Bek Flett 32.

thanks to Fro for the report & JohnD for the Pic.