1996 Victorian Rally Championship

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:

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

Outright Pointscores

Outright Drivers Pointscores

PlaceDriverR1R2R3R4Total
1Graeme Wise1520201570
2Graham Alexander122032
3Rob Devenish10103427
4Derek Reynolds831021
5Marty Beckton2020
6Simon Evans41519
7Murray Rodgers61218
8Brett Thomson8816
9Mike Reeves1515
10Rowan Quill Jr8614
11Keith Cuttle31013
12=Peter Whitten1212
12=Cody Crocker1212
14Brian Semmens2417
15=Paul Gover66
15=Chris Lowe66
17Rai Curry44
18Darren Windus33
19=Mohan Perera22
19=Alan Friend22
19=Paul Mahoney12
19=Spencer lowndes22
23=Ian Lightfoot11
23=Delian Mills11

Outright Co-Drivers Pointscores

PlaceCo-driverR1R2R3R4Total
1Rob Beekman1520201570
2David Stewart122032
3Stephen Kealy10103427
4Paul Tirant831021
5Eido Osawa2020
6Rachel Bruty61218
7=Angela Murray1515
7=Robin Smalley1515
9Michelle Canning8614
10=Greg Day1212
10=Greg Foletta1212
12David Leoncini11011
13=Mark Laidlay88
13=Rob Vanderee88
15Dan Parry2417
16=Richard Gay66
16=Sue Brick66
18=Ann Gigney44
18=Sue McCready44
20=Joe Brick33
20=Paul Humm33
22=Pat Mollison22
22=Rowan Quill Snr22
22=Stephen Young22
25=Brendan Clough11
25=Rod Greenwood11

Novice Pointscores

Novice Drivers Pointscores

PlaceDriverR1R2R3R4Total
1Paul Mahony00201535
2Spencer Lownes01002030
3David Rowe01501227
4Ray Wingrave00151025
5=Ian Lightfoot2000020
5=Delian Mills0202220
7Andrew Caddy0010818
8=Chris Hincks0120012
8=Sean O’Flynn0012012
10Nick Whitely008210
11=A. Kent08008
11=Adam Wilson00448

Novice Co-Drivers Pointscores

PlaceCo-driverR1R2R3R4Total
1Pat Mollison01002030
2Tracey Dewhurst01501227
3Brett Findlay00151025
4=Terry Mullholland2000020
4=Brendan Clough0200020
4=Rod Greenwood0020020
7Mark Rodgers0001515
8=B. Graetz0120012
8=L. Emmerzael0012012
10M. Prfaca0010010
11=Paul Loughnan00088
11=N. Insley08008
11=P. Whitely00808
11=Matt deVaus00448

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