The Motorsport Australia WA Rally Championship resumes this weekend with 25 crews to battle it out in the forests of Mundaring and Sawyer’s Valley. 
  
Taking place on Saturday, the Morley Tyre Centre Safari Rally will see the state’s best rally crews have three passes of three stages in a challenging event of more than 100 competitive kilometres. 
  
With four rounds already completed, the fight for the state title is turning out to be quite the spectacle as current leader Ben Searcy holds an advantage of 26 points over multiple champion John O’Dowd. 
  
There are only another two rounds succeeding this weekend’s nine-stage rally, and another top two result to Searcy will help him edge closer to his maiden state championship title.  


Photo: Jarrod Sierociak

The entry list also features all the championship’s regular big names including Jack Flanagan and Craig Rando – with their respective title campaigns running out of steam at the previous round.  
  
Click here to view the entry list.  
  
Making his third appearance for the year is RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship junior Max McRae, who enjoyed an impressive top 10 finish in August’s Karri Rally.  
  
The teenager has confirmed his entry for this weekend, however he won't be behind the wheel of his regular Truck Wholesale Ford Fiesta Rally. Gearbox troubles at the Make Smoking History Targa West last month has forced McRae to park his usual drive. 
  
Instead, the 17-year-old will pilot Race Torque Engineering’s Peugeot 208 AP4 for the event as he looks to continue his development as a driver. 

“It’s a shame not to be in the Fiesta,” McRae said.  
  
“I had a blast in Targa and this car’s so much fun to drive on the loose, it would have been great to be in it on the gravel this weekend. 
  
“But I’m not too disappointed. The Fiesta is great, but the Peugeot 208 is something else.  


“It’s a 1600cc engine with around 300bhp – it’s really similar to the Rally2 cars. 
  
“This is such a big step for me to be driving that AP4 car, I just want to take the experience and make sure I’m understanding the way the car’s working under me.  
  
“This is a bit of a next step kind of moment for me. I can see guys in Europe around my age, the likes of Fabio Schwarz and Oliver [Solberg] really pushing on and they’re doing it in Rally2 cars. This AP4 is the same style of car and driving it is so valuable for me at this time in my career. 
  
“It’s a great opportunity and one Dad (Alister McRae) and I are really grateful to Race Torque for helping us with.” 

Just one stage is open for rally fans to watch the action live, however all three passes of Kevs will be available and free to attend with the first car due on the third stage from 1:48pm AWST. 
  
Click here to download the spectator guide.  
  
The Morley Tyre Centre Safari Rally takes place in the forests surrounding Mundaring and Sawyer’s Valley on Saturday 2 October.