It’s been more than 12 months since Victoria hosted the CAMS Australian Rally Championship, with the Pedders Eureka Rush last running as the 2018 season opener.
A lot has changed since 49 crews went head-to-head around the surrounding forests of Ballarat in March last year.
Current championship leaders Harry Bates and John McCarthy are at the top of their game and they will be looking to add a fourth victory to their season at their favourite event.
But the competition will be fierce, with WRC driver Hayden Paddon among the big name entries in the battle of Ballarat.
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Pedders Eureka Rush has been a happy hunting ground for current Championship leader, Bates. Right from the get go, the Toyota Yaris had a point to prove.
Bates and McCarthy ended the opening day eight seconds ahead of Glenney with Evans a further minute behind.
On Sunday morning, 2016 ARC champion Molly Taylor got off the mark with the first stage win of the day, but that was as good as it got for the rest of the competition as Bates went to another level for the remainder of the day,
The Canberrian steered his Yaris to the next five stage wins with Steve Glenney coming within three tenths of second on stage 12, as well as finishing equal with Bates on the final stage of the day.
Bates and McCarthy ended the day 30 seconds ahead of Glenney, while Glen Raymond and Kate Catford came in third just three seconds behind the orange Subaru.
It was a nice way to finish for Raymond and Catford, with the duo enduring a horror day in the first heat, where they missed two stages.
Behind the wheel of the Mini Cooper, Eli Evans and Ben Searcy were unable to break past the recovering Mitsubishi of Raymond and Catford in the second heat, but their consistency was rewarded with an outright podium finish.
Youngster Lewis Bates and Dale Moscatt enjoyed their best finish for the season with fourth place, while Taylor and Malcolm Read rounded out the top five.
The Pedders Eureka Rush returns this year on 24-25 August, including a Super Special Stage on Saturday night in Ballarat.