1996 Victorian Rally Championship

Table of Contents

Series Regulations
Events
Outright Pointscores
Novice Pointscores
Class Awards

It was yet another unusual year with two rounds being cancelled. With a second and two firsts on the first three rounds, Graeme Wise and Rob Beekman had taken a virtually unassailable points lead, and once the two rounds were cancelled, they were assured of the championship. Other round winners were Marty Beckton and Graham Alexander.

The Novice Award saw four different round winners, but also the emergence of Spencer Lowndes as a future star. Paul Mahony won the Novice drivers award with a win and a second but Lowndes’ co-driver, Pat Mollison, took out the Novice co-drivers award with a win and a fourth.

To see what else happened during 1996 in Victorian rallying, go to the 1996 year page.

To see other years of the Victorian Rally Championship, go to the VRC page.

Series Regulations

These were specified in the VRC Standing Regulation, assumed to be the same as the previous year, but it appears a class was introduced for Historic Rally Cars.

The VRC was made up exclusively of Special Stage events.

Eligible vehicles were PRC, Group N and HRC.

Awards were made for outright champions and Novice. There were also car class awards as follows: PRC 2WD up to 1300cc, PRC 2WD 1301-1600cc, PRC 2WD 1601-2000cc, PRC 2WD over 2000cc, PRC 4WD, Group N 2WD under 1300cc, Group N 1301-1600cc, Group N 1601-2000cc, Group N 2WD over 2000cc, Group N 4WD, Formula Commodore (a sub-class of PRC) and HRC.

Outright and Novice points were allocated 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 for first to tenth. Class points were allocated 9-6-4-3-2-1. With only four events, competitors counted all results. Series Registration was introduced in 1994 and only registered competitors were eligible for points. However, bona fide Victorian competitors were automatically recognised as registered! Class awards required competitors to compete in at least 50% of the events.

Events

There were only 4 VRC events this year. The North Eastern was calendared as Round 4 and the Rally of the Rising Sun as the final round but both were cancelled.

Click on each event to see further details, including results:

Rally of Melbourne (VRS P/L, also ARC)
Rally of the Valley (FFCC, ARC C5)
Goulburner Rally (SDCC)
Djerriwarrh Rally (MMSC)

Outright Pointscores

Outright Drivers Pointscores

Place	Driver	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total
1	Graeme Wise	15	20	20	15	70
2	Graham Alexander	12			20	32
3	Rob Devenish	10	10	3	4	27
4	Derek Reynolds	8	3		10	21
5	Marty Beckton	20				20
6	Simon Evans	4		15		19
7	Murray Rodgers		6	12		18
8	Brett Thomson			8	8	16
9	Mike Reeves		15			15
10	Rowan Quill Jr		8	6		14
11	Keith Cuttle	3		10		13
12=	Peter Whitten		12			12
12=	Cody Crocker				12	12
14	Brian Semmens		2	4	1	7
15=	Paul Gover	6				6
15=	Chris Lowe				6	6
17	Rai Curry		4			4
18	Darren Windus				3	3
19=	Mohan Perera	2				2
19=	Alan Friend			2		2
19=	Paul Mahoney			1		2
19=	Spencer lowndes				2	2
23=	Ian Lightfoot	1				1
23=	Delian Mills		1			1

Outright Co-Drivers Pointscores

Place	Co-driver	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total
1	Rob Beekman	15	20	20	15	70
2	David Stewart	12			20	32
3	Stephen Kealy	10	10	3	4	27
4	Paul Tirant	8	3		10	21
5	Eido Osawa	20				20
6	Rachel Bruty		6	12		18
7=	Angela Murray			15		15
7=	Robin Smalley		15			15
9	Michelle Canning		8	6		14
10=	Greg Day		12			12
10=	Greg Foletta				12	12
12	David Leoncini	1		10		11
13=	Mark Laidlay			8		8
13=	Rob Vanderee				8	8
15	Dan Parry		2	4	1	7
16=	Richard Gay				6	6
16=	Sue Brick	6				6
18=	Ann Gigney	4				4
18=	Sue McCready		4			4
20=	Joe Brick	3				3
20=	Paul Humm				3	3
22=	Pat Mollison				2	2
22=	Rowan Quill Snr			2		2
22=	Stephen Young	2				2
25=	Brendan Clough		1			1
25=	Rod Greenwood			1		1

Novice Pointscores

Novice Drivers Pointscores

Place	Driver	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total
1	Paul Mahony	0	0	20	15	35
2	Spencer Lownes	0	10	0	20	30
3	David Rowe	0	15	0	12	27
4	Ray Wingrave	0	0	15	10	25
5=	Ian Lightfoot	20	0	0	0	20
5=	Delian Mills	0	20	2	2	20
7	Andrew Caddy	0	0	10	8	18
8=	Chris Hincks	0	12	0	0	12
8=	Sean O’Flynn	0	0	12	0	12
10	Nick Whitely	0	0	8	2	10
11=	A. Kent	0	8	0	0	8
11=	Adam Wilson	0	0	4	4	8

Novice Co-Drivers Pointscores

Place	Co-driver	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total
1	Pat Mollison	0	10	0	20	30
2	Tracey Dewhurst	0	15	0	12	27
3	Brett Findlay	0	0	15	10	25
4=	Terry Mullholland	20	0	0	0	20
4=	Brendan Clough	0	20	0	0	20
4=	Rod Greenwood	0	0	20	0	20
7	Mark Rodgers	0	0	0	15	15
8=	B. Graetz	0	12	0	0	12
8=	L. Emmerzael	0	0	12	0	12
10	M. Prfaca	0	0	10	0	10
11=	Paul Loughnan	0	0	0	8	8
11=	N. Insley	0	8	0	0	8
11=	P. Whitely	0	0	8	0	8
11=	Matt deVaus	0	0	4	4	8

Class Awards

PRC 2WD under 1300cc: not awarded

PRC 2WD 1300-1600cc: Murray Rogers / Rachel Bruty, Toyota Corolla GT

PRC 2WD 1600-2000cc: David Rowe / Tracey Dewhurst, Ford Escort Mk II

PRC 2WD over 2000cc: Rob Devenish / Stephen Kealey, Datsun 240Z

PRC 4WD: Graeme Wise / Rob Beekman, Mitsubishi Lancer RS-e

Group N 2WD under 1300cc: not awarded

Group N 2WD 1301-1600cc: not awarded

Group N 2WD 1601-2000cc: not awarded

Group N 2WD over 2000cc: not awarded

Group N 4WD: Brett Thomson, Mitsubishi Galant VR4
Co-driver: Greg Day (with Peter Whitten)

Formula Commodore: Chris Walters / Michael Bruce, Commodore VH

HRC: Brendon Lindsey / John McLaughlin, Alfa Romeo Guilia