New Classic Outback Trial To Coincide With Repco Rally Australia

A new seven-day Outback Trial for classic rally vehicles will race over some of the same stages as the World Rally Championship in this year’s Repco Rally Australia. This will include the international event’s spectacular Super Special stage at Murwillumbah.

Called the Classic Outback Trial (COT), the event is to run from August 30th through to September 5th and will be integrated into Round 10 of the Repco Rally Australia (RRA).

The COT is being run by the same highly-qualified team that staged last year’s 12-day Red Centre to Gold Coast Trial. This includes former rally competitor Philip Bernadou, former Australian Rally Champion Bob Watson, vastly experienced rally administrator Tom Snooks and leading rally navigator Phil Rainer.

The 3,500km event will kick off in the NSW town of Forbes on Sunday August 30 and travel to Coonabarabran and Casino, before finishing in Tweed Heads. Up to 20 percent of the course will be competitive, with entrants spending two nights in most locations to minimise costs and travel for service crews.

The course will take entrants over at least three of the RRA special stages plus the event’s high-profile public Super Special stage. All COT competitors will also receive free entry with special seating to see the WRC cars in action on the RRA Super Special stage.

The COT will finish ahead of WRC competitors at the RRA Service Park on Saturday September 5 and will be followed by an official presentation function.

COT competitors will also be offered the exclusive opportunity to view the final day’s Special Stage action of Repco Rally Australia from a fully-catered corporate viewing location. A Sunday alternative will be to attend the annual Speed on Tweed displays and events at Murwillumbah, which is also being supported by Repco Rally Australia.

$3,500 will cover your entry fee to the Classic Outback Trial and includes two tickets to the event’s Welcome and Presentation functions, road books and service crew registration/instructions and all official vehicle signage.

To be eligible (and subject to CAMS approval) competitors vehicles will be Historic Rally Cars built prior to 1981, Classic Rally Cars built prior to 1983, Production Rally Cars built prior to 1996. Station wagon-type recreational four-wheel drive vehicles made prior to 1990, including turbo-diesel models are also welcome but four-wheel drive and turbocharged cars are not eligible to compete.

A touring event – the Outback Classic Tour – will be also run in association with the Outback Classic Trial. This will be open to any road-registered vehicle, with no special preparation required. The Tour will use only good quality roads and will basically follow the general course of the Trial, visiting Trial control points where appropriate.

Social interaction between Trial and Tour competitors on a nightly basis will be a feature. Entry fee for the Tour is $1,500 - if you're looking for a holiday with a difference, this looks like great value for money.