Coffs Coasts is first test for Hyundai i30 in ARC

Story: Evan Rothman
Picture: Team Hyundai Rallye
The first diesel car to tackle the Australian Rally Championship in the modern era is all set to go for the Coffs Coast Rally this weekend.

Coffs Coast Rally plays host to Round Three of the Australian Rally Championship (ARC), and is contested over three days of challenging stage kilometres.

With an endurance concept in mind, the organisers’ of this year’s edition have extended the rally’s stage distance. The total distance for the event competitors will be 694,00km, with 292,99km being timed stages. This will be split into 22 stages.

For 2010, the organisers boast that they have a completely new route, with roads never having been used before for rallying making up the route. Traditional forest roads in Australia… rally heaven, I reckon!

Excitingly, it is Team Hyundai Rallye’s first outing in a national rally this weekend. Using an i30 diesel model, the team hopes to set the cat among the pigeons at Coffs Coast Rally.

The Team Hyundai Rallye completed testing on the car last week in Canberra, with former Australian Rally Championship Driver Rick Bates. “Rick provided some valuable set up information, and feedback on the handling of the car. We are pleased with what we’ve learnt about the car,” said team driver Mick Gillett. “We didn’t take a backward step all day, the car just continued to improve with each minor adjustment.”

Whilst the crew has many years worth of rallying experience between them, this is their first event in a diesel car and thus will be treated as a learning experience. “We are looking forward to seeing what the i30 can do. We’ve still got plenty to learn about the car, but it’s an exciting opportunity to see what a diesel can do in this format of motorsport.”

The next step for the crew is to get the i30 to Coffs Harbour for their first Australian Rally Championship event.

“The i30 will be very strong in this event, but we have to pace ourselves to make sure we get to the end of such a long event.”

“The event has great roads, some new ideas and will present a fantastic challenge. It really is a credit to the Coffs Harbour District Sporting Car Club that they have put their efforts behind such a great event.” Said co-driver, Harvey Smith, who – as well as Gillett – grew up in Coffs Harbour. “We are so excited to be coming home!”

For most people, the first chance to see the i30 in action will be on Friday 14th May at the Coffs Harbour showground. Spectators will have the opportunity to see all the cars in action, as well as seeing the crews undertake servicing at the showground.