Bendigo ready for classic Rallysprint showdown
Friday 27 October, 2023
Photo: John Doutch
The Historic Rally Association (HRA) will return to action this weekend when it hosts the 2023 Bagshot Rallysprint.
The event will take place at Bendigo Car Club’s magnificent Bagshot Facility and host both the seventh round of the 2023 HRA Rally Championship and the 2023 Pro Rally Fabrications Standard Car Class Rally Championship.
More than 40 competitors are expected to take part in the event, where each will undertake the short course at the popular Bendigo facility and tackle up to six runs of the 3-kilometre track.
However, not every run will be the same as participants will revert to an anti-clockwise format of the circuit at the halfway point of the Rallysprint, potentially mixing things up at the top of the pecking order.
The fastest score in each track variation will count towards the overall score, with the fastest driver being crowned the winner of the event.
Each competitor will deliver a unique experience on the day, with entered cars spanning from a Dutsan 1600 to a Suzuki Swift, and everything in between.
The diversity in vehicles comes with the regulations stating each entry must be a non-turbo 2WD vehicle – allowing for equal, fair competition.
The potential of fair competition not only counts towards the outright rankings, but class honours as well.
Each vehicle will be split into relevant classes and go head-to-head for individual honours, including Historic Pre 1981, PRC Pre 1981, PRC Modern, Classic Rally Car, HRA Standard Car and the ‘other’ category.
Clerk of Course, Andrew Paice was looking forward to the event getting underway and claims the real winner isn’t necessarily the one with the fastest time on the board.
“We are really looking forward to getting this event underway, we are expecting 44 participants with a real diverse entry of cars, so it should be very exciting,” Paice said.
“I have to give many thanks to the Bendigo Car Club, without them this event isn't possible and they provide a great foundation for a successful event, I hope the weather can stay dry for them.
“It's one that all competitors seem to love and while they will be battling it out for the fastest times, the real winner on the day is the one who has the most fun.”
The 2023 Bagshot RallySprint will take place at Bendigo Car Club’s Motorsport Complex on 28 October.