2002 Victorian Rally Championship

The 2002 VRC was closely fought with round wins to Mark Fawcett / Kylie Evans (Impreza WRC),  Mike Reeves / Robin Smalley (Lancer Evo 3) and Darryn Snooks / David Johns (Lancer Evo 1) . However it was the consistent performances of Brett Thomson / Rob Vanderree in their Galant VR4 that gave them the championship. just two points clear of David Nutter / Roslyn Martin in a Subaru Impreza WRX. Surprisingly, neither crew won a round, but consistent results saw them accumulate the most points.

To see what else happened during 2002 in Victorian rallying, go to the 2002 year page.

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

Need photos notice

Series Regulations

These were specified in the VRC Standing Regulations.

The VRC was made up exclusively of Special Stage events with competitive distances between 50 and 230 km.

Eligible vehicles were PRC, Group N and Historic Rally Cars.

Awards were made for outright champions, 2WD and Novice (sponsored by Peddars and known as the Peddars No Bull Award). There were also car class awards as follows: PRC 2WD up to 1400cc, PRC 2WD 1401-1600cc, PRC 2WD 1601-2000cc, PRC 2WD over 2000cc, PRC 4WD, Group N under 1400cc, Group N 1401-1600cc, Group N 1601-2000cc, Group N over 2000cc and Historic Rally Cars.

All awards were allocated 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 for first to  tenth.  All points were to count. Series Registration was introduced back in 1994 and only registered competitors were eligible for points. However, bona fide Victorian competitors were automatically recognised as registered! All awards required competitors to complete in at least 50% of the events.

Events

There were 5 VRC events in 2002. Quite a lot of changes with the Akademos returning for the first time since 1993, the inclusion of a “sprint rally” and the addition of a NSW Championship event. The Rallye des Pyrenees was calendared as the final round but appears to have been cancelled.

  1. Rally of Mildura (Rallye Sport Devts)  – Results in March Unicar
  2. Presidents Sprint Rally (CCRMIT) – Results in April Unicar
  3. Akademos Rally (MUCC) – Results in May Unicar
  4. Bega Valley Rally (NSW) – Results in July Unicar
  5. North Eastern Rally (NECC) – Results in Dec Unicar

Outright Pointscores

2WD Pointscores

Novice Pointscores

Class Awards

PRC 2WD under 1400cc: Brad Sanders / Belinda Sanders, Suzuki Swift

PRC 2WD 1401-1600cc: Bill Sullivan/Perry Brown, Daihatsu de Tomaso

PRC 2WD 1601-2000cc: Bryce Steele / Susan Jackson, Datsun 1600

PRC 2WD over 2000cc: Brian Semmens / David Leoncini, Nissan 200SX RVS12

PRC 4WD Equal:
David Nutter / Roslyn Martin, Subaru Impreza WRX
Brett Thomson / Rob Vanderree, Mitsubishi Galant VR4

Group N under 1400cc: Barry Rowe / Natasha Rowe, Suzuki Swift GTi

Group N 1401-1600cc: not awarded

Group N: 1601-2000cc: not awarded

Group N over 2000cc: Benni Tirant / Paul Tirant, Subaru Impreza Sti

HRC: not awarded

Points tables