FIA World Rally Championship co-driver Sebastian Marshall has revealed his fondness for Australia's rally stages, which include his two podium finishes at Rally Australia.

 

The ARC Service Park’s latest guest is currently paired up with Irish driver Kris Meeke in the WRC and has had his own experiences with Australia, having called notes for the ARC’s own Molly Taylor.

 

Marshall and Taylor spent four years together between 2011 and 2014 competing in Europe’s toughest rallies, either behind the wheel of the Ford Fiesta R2 or Citroën DS3 R3T.

 

The Briton got his first genuine rally experience on Australian roads in 2013, with the duo taking part in the Motorsport Australia Rally Championship round at the time - Rally SA.

 

Eventually finishing seventh outright, Marshall revealed to ARC Service Park host Adrian Coppin just how much he enjoyed the week.

 

"There are a lot of similarities with Australia and Britain, especially in terms of the national competition, which was incredibly strong,” Marshall said.

 

“The camaraderie and welcome that I got was fantastic and the roads in SA was the real highlight. Particularity the shire stages like Tweeden and Goldfields.

 

“Even in a two-wheel drive car, they were fantastic. I can only imagine what it would be like to go back in an R5 or WRC car.

 

“It was my first taste of Australian rallying before I came back to the WRC. I have really fond memories of that week.”

 

Marshall returned to Australia a few years later alongside New Zealander Hayden Paddon, where the duo claimed runner-up honours during the 2017 Rally Australia and a third place in the 2018 event in the works Hyundai WRC.