It’s back to back championships for Paul Dowie and John Allen in their Porsche GT3 RS.
The pair didn’t win a single event outright, finishing second place three times to the unstoppable force that is Jason and Fiona Wright. But when the Wrights black Nissan GTR had to withdraw from the Great Tarmac Rally, Dowie and Allen were able to capitalise, banking those all important points which would make the difference at the end of the year.
Coming in second outright was Crichton Lewis and Anthony Carr, ahead of the aforementioned Jason and Fiona Wright, who it must be said ran an almost perfect year taking three outright wins out of four events and still managing to finish third overall despite bringing home no points for an entire event.
We have to say a huge thank you to the ATR team, Event Solutions Motorsport and the army of volunteers who run start lines, radio beacons and SOS points along the various stages across the year. Most importantly, we must thank the various businesses and councils who allow the use of these amazing roads we could not rally without.
Winners of the various classes include:
C2: Classic 1972 – 1985
It was a clean sweep for Michael & Lachlan Nordsvan who won the category in all four rounds in their 1984 Mazda RX7.
C3: Classic Super Rally Pre 1985
An incredible effort for Mick Downey and Jarrod Akker who not only won Class 3, but also finished 4th outright in their 1979 Group C Holden Commodore, a dinosaur compared to the modern GTR’s and Porsche GT3’s it has finished directly behind!
C4: Early Modern 2WD 1986 – 2007
Mark Balcombe and Ian Wheeler drove the comeback of the century in their 1995 Mazda RX7 after a devastating start to the year when their first rally was over just three stages in. Two second place finished and a victory in class were enough to turn the tide and take the class win for 2024.
C5: Early Modern AWD 1986 – 2007
Allan & Kerry Hines drove one of the championship’s most popular vehicle choices, a Mitsubishi Evo 10, to a crushing victory in Early Modern AWD by over one hundred points.
C6: Modern 2WD 2008
Naturally, outright winners Paul Dowie and John Allen have ofcourse won their class ahead of Laura Rogers in the Cayman GTS that punches well above its weight!
C8: Modern AWD 2008
It might have been second place outright but they were the fastest four wheel powered team! Crichton Lewis and Anthony Carr are the Modern AWD Champions for 2024.
C9: Modern Super Rally 1986+
Despite their hardships in Marysville, Jason and Fiona Wright are the Modern Super Rally Champions, however, by the slimmest of margins! Godzilla finished just nine points in class ahead of Jeremy Dennison and Casey Rumble!
C10: Rally Challenge
Carrie & Sean Priestly would take the Rally Challenge victory in their Audi TT, the only team in the class to have completed three or more rounds of the year.
C12: Rally Sport
The only all-female team of Luana Garwood and Suzanne Atkins have claimed victory in the Rally Sport category, finishing ahead by 86 points. Despite facing a mechanical issue at Mt Baw Baw Sprint, the team demonstrated their skill and determination by completing 3 out of 4 events.
AASA is extremely proud to welcome the end of another fantastic year of Tarmac Rallying in Victoria. Alongside the Tarmac Events WA team, we support a strong and vibrant network of Tarmac Rally events across the country. We are extremely thankful to all the individuals and businesses which give their time, effort, money or permission for us to be able to sanction these fantastic events and we are dedicated to a long and successful future of this fantastic sport and the amazing community of passionate people within.
Once again, congratulations to all our 2024 champions on another fantastic year. Enjoy a well deserved break and keep your eyes peeled as the ATR team prepares to release the season calendar for 2025!
