AUS: Rally Tasmania news 2010-02-02

30th Rally Tasmania boosted by top entries

The entry list for this month's 30th Anniversary Rally Tasmania has been boosted with two of Australia's best rally drivers entering the three-day event.

2008 Rally Tasmania winner, Steve Glenney, and Victorian young gun, Brendan Reeves, will both drive Subaru Impreza WRX STIs in the Burnie-based tarmac rally.

Glenney, in particular, has a sensational record in Tasmania, having recently won the modern section of Targa Tasmania in 2008 and the classic section of Targa Wrest Point in 2009.

A field of over 50 entries will see Glenney and Reeves join some of Australian motorsport's biggest names for Rally Tasmania, including Jim Richards and Simon Evans.

After converting his Subaru from gravel spec to tarmac trim by fitting new springs, bigger front brakes and removing the turbo restrictor, Glenney is eager to repeat his success in the event from two years ago.

"You obviously enter every event trying to win it, and this will be no different," the South Australian horse trainer said.

"My Subaru is a little bit of an unknown in this environment, but I think we're in with a good shot of victory - although there will be some tough competition.

"The roads around Burnie are fantastic, and the Hellyer Gorge and Savage River stages are up there with the best tarmac rally roads in the country."

Glenney will introduce a new brand of tarmac rally tyre to the event, with the Taiwanese made Federal brand supporting his entry in the rally.

"With plenty of testing planned between now and the event, I'm sure that the tyres will be up to the task and will give us every chance of winning," he added.

Despite being only 21 years of age, Reeves has already had a lot of success on tarmac rallies, finishing second outright in Rallye Burnie in 2007, beaten only by Jim Richards. He has also had impressive results in Targa Tasmania driving for the Mazda Motorsport Team.a€"

"It will be great to compete in Tassie again," Reeves said. "I really love the roads down there and I am looking forward to competing against some of the country's best drivers in the Modern category.

"We contested the Australian Rally Championship component of the rally last year, but moving up to the Modern competition will be a new challenge that I'm really looking forward to.

"We have a test at Winton Raceway before the event to fine tune the car, and we hope to be right on the pace."

Rally Tasmania operations manager, Kevin O'Daly, says that the entries of Glenney and Reeves will boost the quality of the field, and will give spectators even more top class drivers to watch over the course of the three days.

Rally Tasmania will be based out of Burnie from February 26 - 28. In all drivers will tackle 19 special stages covering a total competitive distance of 210 kilometres. Three stages on Friday afternoon will be followed by eight stages on both Saturday and Sunday.

The highlight for spectators will be two runs around the Burnie street stage on Sunday afternoon, the last two stages of the rally. This will be followed by a Food and Wine Festival on the Burnie foreshore.

-source: rally tasmania