2007 RACEtech Steel Victorian Rally Championship

Justin Dowell and Matt Lee (Lancer Evo 6/9) again won the 2007 VRC with five wins out of seven rounds but it was a close fight with Mark Fawcett / Simon Ellis (Subaru Impreza WRX) who had two round wins to finish second in the championship. In fact both crews finished on the same points but Fawcett and Ellis had to drop their worst result, a fifth place.

Brian Semmens and  David Leoncini won the 2WD Championship in their Nissan 200SX RV S12 after a close tussle with novices Tim Stutchbury and Nathan Paparella in their Holden Commodore.

Stutchbury and Paparella had a fantastic year and won both the Clubman award and the Novice award.

To see what else happened during 2007 in Victorian rallying, go to the 2007 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, but we don’t have a copy. They are assumed to be similar to the previous year but certainly all events counted to all awards.

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

Eligible vehicles were PRC, Group N, Historic Rally Cars and Classic Rally Cars (not eligible for VRC points?).

Awards were made for outright champions, 2WD, Clubman and Novice. There were also car class awards as follows: PRC up to 1400cc, PRC 1401-1600cc, PRC 1601-2000cc, PRC 2WD over 2000cc, PRC 4WD over 2000cc (split into two classes, pre and post 1991) , Group N under 1400cc, Group N 1401-1600cc, Group N 1601-2000cc, Group N over 2000cc, Historic Rally Cars and Classic Rally Cars. The Excel Rally Series was also introduced but was subject to a separate set of regulations.

All awards were allocated 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 for first to  tenth.  With seven rounds, the best six results counted. 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 compete in at least 50% of the events.

Events

There were 6 VRC events in 2007 with Rally of Melbourne being two rounds so 7 in total with 6 to count. The Derrick was postponed from July to December.

  1. Cerberus Stages (CerbCC)
  2. East Gippsland Stages (MUCC)
  3. Bega Valley Motors Rally (NSW)
  4. Akademos Rally (MUCC)
  5. Rally of Melbourne (also ARC)
  6. Heat 2 of Rally of Melbourne
  7. George Derrick Memorial Trial (CCRMIT)
Note that the Derrick is still listed as Round 4 in tables below.

Pointscores

Class Awards

PRC under 1400cc: Mark Howard-Jones / Deborah Howard-Jones, Daihatsu Charade

PRC 1401-1600cc: Paul Batten / Craig Jones, Hyundai Accent

PRC 1601-2000cc: James Elliott / Cathy Rainer, Hyundai Lantra

PRC 2WD over 2000cc: Tim Stutchbury / Nathan Paparella, Holden Commodore

PRC 4WD over 2000cc post 1990: Justin Dowell / Matt Lee, Mitsubishi Lancer RS e9

PRC 4WD over 2000cc pre 1991: Steve Kenway / Lauren Kenway, Mitsubishi Galant VR4

Group N under 1400cc: not awarded

Group N 1401-1600cc: Emma Cugley / Joanne Robison, Hyundai Excel

Group N: 1601-2000cc: not awarded

Group N over 2000cc: Kirk Marks / Sarah Marks, Subaru Impreza WRX

HRC: not awarded

CRC: not awarded