After more than 18 months of waiting, the popular Shannons Adelaide Rally has finally returned with the 2021 edition officially underway.
With 137 entries across four classes taking part in the event, crews were treated to almost 28 competitive kilometres across eight stages during the first day of action on Wednesday.
Ending the first day of competition in both the outright and Modern Competition lead was Ben Calder and Steve Glenney after guiding their Mitsubishi Evo 6 to three stage wins.
Despite facing challenges from a number of crews in what was a tight contest, Calder and Glenney managed to extend their lead out to more than 10 seconds by the final stage after their biggest competitors in Oscar Matthews and Tristan Catford had dramas of their own.
In second place was the Mitsubishi Evo 9 of Julian Newton and Nicholas Wotton, while Dean Lillie/John Lilleyman finished in third a further nine seconds behind.
In the Classic Competition, Matthew Selley and Hamish McKendrick enjoyed a dominant opening day behind the wheel of the 1985 BMW Hartge, having led the field for every stage.
The duo extended their lead out to the eight seconds at one point, but Roger Paterson and Richard Geue were able to peg back the buffer to just under four seconds after a strong seventh stage in their 1974 Porsche 911RS.
Finishing almost 25 seconds behind the class leaders were Tim Pryzibilla and Rick Powell.
In the Modern Challenge, 2015 Subaru pilots Justin Perkins and Andrien Brabbins enjoyed a strong day to finish up with a six and half second lead over the Lotus Exige of Robert and Alex Bryden.
The Brydens got the better start of the two crews, taking out the first two stages, only to be overturned on the fourth. They managed to recover nicely but were unable to recapture the lead by the end of the day.
Just five seconds behind the second placed crew are Gordon Christie and Nigel Mcgaffin, while the Volvo S60 drivers have their hands full with Nathan Robbins/Alex Johnson just over two and half seconds behind.
The final class sees the event’s closest battle for top honours transpiring between two 1970 Fords in the Classic Challenge.
Dean Cook and Simon Richards were in front at the fifth stage, before Lachlan Cox and Sam Martin regained the lead by the end of the sixth stage.
However, Cook and Richards managed to wrestle their way back into the lead by the seventh to make sure they led at the conclusion of the first day.
With 300 cars taking part in the available tour groups and a further 26 stages still to run over the next three days, nine of which will be completed today, there is plenty of action still to happen in the Shannons Adelaide Rally.