The BP Visco 2000 Alpine Rally, organised by the Light Car Club of Australia, was held on April 28-30.
Once again directed by Stuart and Helen Lister, with the event moved to earlier in the year to avoid the road damage and problems associated with winter and late spring rains. The event was again based on the Lake Hume Resort but at BP’s request, included a Melbourne start on the Friday, which was from BP Somerton, before taking in a stage at Porsche Park, a stage in Reef Hills and two stages in Killawarra. The reminder of the event used traditional forest and plantations around Beechworth, Myrtleford and Bright. The event ran in dry weather and only lost two stages prior to the event due to logging operations.
Australian Rally Championship Round 2
Victorian Rally Championship Round 4
Greg Carr and Mick Harker were clear winners of the ARC event in the Lancia Delta Integrale, finishing more than 3 minutes clear of Murray Coote and Iain Stewart in a Mazda 323 Familia. Ed Ordynski and Lyn Wilson were a distant third in a Galant VR4, 15 minutes further back.
The VRC route did not include the final two stages, but crews in PRC cars could enter the ARC category and the VRC category. Pat Barber and Jim Maude were victorious in the VRC round in the Laser TX3, also placing fourth in the ARC. Likewise, the Clubman crew of Dean and Trevor Nixon placed second in the VRC round in their Subaru RX Turbo, also placing 9th in the ARC round. Greg Hoinville and Michael Cains boosted their championship score by entering as a Clubman car, even though their car was eligible for PRC. They placed fourth but were first Clubman Car, so picking up maximum points. It all nearly came unstuck when they had an unfortunate head-on collision with an official on the final transport and only just made it to the finish within their late time after undertaking major repairs.
