1996 Rally of Melbourne

The Rally of Melbourne was conducted by VRS Pty Ltd, and was the brainchild of Glenn Cuthbert. This edition ran on March 15-17.

Round 3 Australian Rally Championship (coefficient 10)

Round 1 Victorian Rally Championship

This year’s Rally of Melbourne was won by Possum Bourne and Craig Vincent in their Subaru by almost 3 minutes from from Neal Bates and Coral Taylor in the Celica GT-four. Top Victorians were Marty Beckton and Eido Osaw in a Lancer. Reigning Victorian champion Graeme Wise opened his account for 1996 with a second place in the VRC category.
 
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Results and entry list

PlaceDriverCo-driverCarTimeVRCNovice
1Possum BourneCraig VincentSubaru Impreza WRX2:12:11
2Neal BatesCoral TaylorToyota Celica GT-Four2:15:01
3Ed OrdynskiMark StaceyMitsubishi Lancer RSe32:18:40
4Reece Jones*Leo Bult*Mitsubishi Lancer RSe2:19:15
5Marty BecktonEido OsawaMitsubishi Lancer RSe22:24:311
6Graeme WiseRob BeekmanMitsubishi Lancer RSe2:26:342
7Rod SalmonGraeme JesseMitsubishi Lancer RSe32:26:59
8Nibuhio Tajima*Ross RunnallsSuzuki Swift GTi2:28:22
9Graham AlexanderDavid StewartMitsubishi Lancer RSe2:28:393
10Rob DevenishStephen KealyDatsun 240Z2:34:464
11Derek ReynoldsPaul TirantMitsubishi Galant VR42:35:095
12Michael ThompsonGordon KlebbaSubaru Impreza WRX2:35:37
13Steve WinwoodSue BrickFord Falcon XR62:36:42-/6
14Paul GoverAnn GigneyToyota Vienta2:37:596/7
15Simon EvansJoe BrickToyota Corolla Seca2:40:147/8
16P. VinceStephen YoungToyota Corolla Seca2:41:54-/9
17Norm FritterT, JacksonToyota Celica GT-Four2:45:43
18Keith CuttleDavid LeonciniHolden Commodore2:46:078/10
19Mohan PereraSue McCreadyHolden Commodore2:50:459/-
20Ian LightfootTerry MullhollandToyota Corolla GT2:54:2010/-1

* Not eligible for ARC points

Route

The route comprised 16 special stages totalling 233 km competitive distance.

The event began at Friday lunchtime in the city and headed up to Mt Disappointment for four special stages, including a run down Upper Parrot Creek Road and a short stage in the Flowerdale Plantation.

On Saturday three of those stages were repeated plus a run down Mt Slide to a service at Yarra Glen. A special stage followed at the Domaine Chandon Winery before a long stage in Murrindindi, a run down the Acheron Way and over Ben Cairn. The day ended with a short twilight special at the Healesville Sportsground.

Sunday morning saw a repeat of the Murrindindi, Acheron and Ben Cairn stages before a regroup in Lilydale and a ceremonial finish in St Kilda.

Itinerary and Route Plot

Other event documents

not available yet