The Motor Sports Club of Tasmania’s busy year of motorsport continues this weekend, with its second gravel hill climb for 2021 to take over the Retreat Plantation. 
  
In its first official year of being back on the club’s calendar, the hill climb will welcome 26 entrants, who will get one reconnaissance lap and up to six official timed runs of the two-kilometre course. 
  
While the numbers are a bit down as opposed to previous round’s entry list, the star power is just as strong with several prominent rally figures from within the state to strut their stuff in a different discipline. 
  
Headlining the entry list is 2018 RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) runner-up, and one of the most highly regarded co-drivers in the country, Steve Glenney. 

  
Going up against him is someone who is no stranger to rallying, Craig Brooks. 
  
While Brooks himself finished fourth in the 2017 ARC season, he opted to take on a team manager role for the succeeding ARC seasons to which he managed Glenney and 2016 Champion Molly Taylor, however he has continued to compete at state level.
  
Other notable entries for the event include Motorsport Australia Tasmania Rally Championship regular Peter Nunn, prominent Tasmanian rally figure Les Walkden and Matthew von Bertouch – the President of the Motor Sports Club of Tasmania. 
  
For von Bertouch, the event has been getting good numbers since its revival after originally running between 2009 and 2014. 

“We’re quite excited to be running the gravel hill climb again this year – especially during a time where there are many events around the country that can’t run,” von Bertouch said. 
  
“We used to run this hill climb on the same piece of road back between 2009 to 2014, but stopped when competitor numbers started to drop. 

“Recently we have had pressure from competitors to bring the event back, so this year the club have resurrected the event back with good numbers and competitor support. 
  
“To have 26 competitors this round after having 28 earlier this year is a good return, but the fact that we have a mixture of really talented steerers and a good showing of junior and women competitors is another bonus 
  
“If the competitors keep supporting it, we will keep running the event, however we may change venues next year pending on road conditions and logging in the area. 
  
“I’m expecting a good showing in an event where there is more than one individual capable of winning.” 
  
The Motor Sports Club of Tasmania’s gravel hill climb takes place at the Retreat Plantation in Lebrinna on Saturday 9 October.