TEAM: Simon Evans Wins Quit Forest Rally

25/4/2016

 

Simon Evans has won the Quit Forest Rally, round one of the new-look Kumho Tyre Australian Rally Championship.

Four time Australian Rally Champion Simon Evans and co-driver Ben Searcy have taken victory at the first event of the year in a nail biting result in Western Australia.

Taking advantage of the new rules allowing a greater range of cars eligible for outright positions, Evans opted for an iconic GC8 Subaru WRX STi for the 2016 season. With its matt black paint scheme and intrinsic tough styling, it wasn't long before fans dubbed it "The Beast" and it certainly lived up to its name. 

"The GC8 has been a stalwart of rallying for many years and I've always looked back at the great times I had racing one in the early 2000's so when it was time to choose a car for this year, it was an easy decision for us" stated Evans.

 

Partnering with ETS Racing Fuels for valued support during the season, Evans and Searcy took to the roads surrounding Nannup and Busselton over the weekend.

 

Being in the unenviable position of first car on the tricky, ball bearing gravel-covered WA roads, the team knew they had a big job ahead of them. After a mammoth battle in heat one, the crew finished the day in second position by only 1.1 seconds to first place. The stage was set for a showdown in heat two and Evans didn't fail to step up. Winning a convincing 7 out of 9 stages, the pair won the day, and the rally, by over 40 seconds.

 

"I'm absolutely stoked" said Evans. "The car was wonderful thanks to my team at Evans Motorsport, we drove hard and as always it's just great to be out there competing!"

 

For Searcy it was a milestone win, his first victory at a round of the ARC. "I was so happy and honoured to finally get a win in the same event I did my first ever rally in 1998. To have a maiden win with Simon after a tough battle all weekend was amazing, the car held up so well and Simon drove it perfectly, it's an absolute credit to Evans Motorsport and ETS Racing Fuels and I can't wait to get to Canberra" said Searcy.

 

The team has been amazed and humbled by the outpouring of support from across the country and globally. For Evans, it's all about challenges of the sport and he can't wait for the rest of the year - "bring it!" he smiled.

 

The next round of the Kumho Tyre Australian Rally Championship is the National Capital Rally in Canberra on May 27-29.

 

Photos courtesy of Blake Pearce Rally Media Facebook Evans Motorsport www.racefuel.com.au www.rally.com.au