EVANS MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW FOR CALTEX


Toyota driver Simon Evans made it three wins in a row for the Caltex-backed team when he claimed Coates Rally Queensland, round three of the NEC Computers Australian Rally Championship, on the Sunshine Coast this weekend.

Evans and co-driver wife Sue began this weekend’s rally in stylish fashion by dominating yesterday’s opening heat.

While he may have secured maximum points, it was far from smooth sailing for Evans as he battled gearbox problems aboard his Toyota Corolla Sportivo – lubricated by Caltex Havoline. The problems began when his car bottomed out over a grid on the day's third stage cracking the gearbox causing a leak.

As a consequence of the damage the Caltex supported TRD team was forced to change Evans’ gearbox overnight which meant Evans was dealt a 30 second penalty at the start of today’s second heat.

Evans put in a stirring drive to dominate today’s stages and finish the day a mere 5.9 seconds behind heat winner Scott Pedder which was enough for the Toyota driver to secure his second overall victory for the 2006.

"That was hard work out there today – very hard work,” said Evans.

“I don't want to have to start a day with a penalty again. I was trying so hard to not go silly to make up the gap.

"I wanted to win badly, but I kept telling myself that there was a championship at stake - do the job and bring the car home. If I couldn't get first I wanted second today.

"Right now we’re taking each rally as it comes and today’s win is a good thing going into Tassie, seeing as that is my least favourite event."

Team boss Neal Bates snared second in yesterday’s opening heat before finishing third in today’s heat to ensure there was again a pair of Caltex supported crews on the podium.

Bates’ third place overall ensured the pair of Toyota drivers extended their lead at the top of the championship table.

"All in all, that's not a bad weekend," Bates said.

"Now we have to keep that up for the rest of the championship - it is fantastic to still be first and second on the ladder.

"If you look at the championship so far, Simon is driving incredibly well - he's been quicker than everyone else out there."

Michael Guest again showed glimpses of the potential of the Caltex-backed Pirtek Ford Focus by finishing 10th in yesterday’s opening heat.

Guest and co-driver Mark Stacey were on course to continue their improving run before spinning off the road on today’s sixth stage and stalling his engine. When the engine took two minutes to fire back to life Guest dropped down the order to 13th position.

“After yesterday’s heat I was pretty happy with tenth considering this was always going to be the worst round in the series for our car with all the tight and twisty uphill stuff,” said Guest.

“In all my years of driving I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to finish a days rallying than what I was yesterday but today was very disappointing.

“We’re continually making improvements to the Pirtek Focus and I look forward to moving closer to the front when the championship continues next month.”

Evans now leads the NEC Computers Australian Rally Championship on 110 points, from Bates on 96 points, Herridge on 84 and Scott Pedder on 73 points.

The next round in the championship is the Subaru Safari Tasmania on July 15-16.

Coates Rally Queensland Results
Top Five
1. Simon Evans/Sue Evans (Toyota Corolla Sportivo)
2. Scott Pedder/ Glenn Weston (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
3. Neal Bates/Coral Taylor (Toyota Corolla Sportivo)
4. Dean Herridge/Bill Hayes (Subaru WRX Sti)
5. Stewart Reid/Anthony McLoughlin (Toyota Corolla Sportivo)

NEC Computers Australian Rally Championship
Top Four after 3 of 6 rounds
1. Simon Evans 110
2. Neal Bates 96
3. Dean Herridge 84
4. Scott Pedder 73



Simon and Sue Evans on the way to victory in the Coates Rally Queensland






Neal Bates and Coral Taylor made it two Caltex crews on the podium






Ford driver Michael Guest in action aboard his Caltex supported Pirtek Focus