Highlights
The Victorian Rally Championship was won by Brian Smith and John Birrell in their Mitsubishi Sigma 2.6L. In a big rally year for him, Brian was also equal 4th in the Australian Rally Championship.
The Victorian Trials Championship was won by Gary Grealy and Jim Maude, and the Victorian Clubman Championship by Graham Wallis and Phil Nicholas.
It was unfortunate that for the first time since 1956, the Alpine Rally was not conducted due to the lack of anyone able to take on the role of Director.
Australian Rally Championship
Victoria’s round of the Australian Rally Championship was Akademos held 16-17 November, following the cancellation of the Alpine Rally. The Akademos was won by Hugh Bell and Steve Ellis in the Pedders Mazda RX7. Despite offs in Queensland and SA, and deciding against going to WA, they nevertheless placed second in the national title behind 1985 Australian Champions, Barry Lowe and Kevin Pedder in their Group A Subaru RX Turbo. Victorian Champion Brian Smith (with David McKenzie navigating) placed equal 4th in the ARC in their Mitsubishi Sigma.
This was the third year of the “equal” points for Group G/Group A but was the first year that a Group A car both won an event and won the championship. This was the beginning of the end for Group G, with the advent of turbo 4WD cars, including the Subaru that won the championship for Lowe and the Mazda 323 4WD that won the Queensland ARC round in the hands of Murray Coote.
