This was the third and final year of the bold experiment to limit the Australian Rally Championship title to 2WD cars. It was also a year of transition as it was announced that the following year would once again include 4WD cars in the title race. It also saw the emergence of new vehicle categories, specifically G4, intended to allow G2 cars to be converted to 4WD, and AP4, a joint CAMS/MANZ initiative based on Argentina’s Maxi car concept and intended to allow the development of home-grown kit cars similar to FIA R5 and S2000.
The move back to 4WD was also precipitated by the relative lack of manufacturer support, originally the primary motivation for the adoption of a 2WD only championship. Sadly, Honda had pulled out the previous year, Renault had largely retreated and Citroen’s involvement was being downgraded. By the final round of 2015 there were just five 2WD cars entered.
Notwithstanding the uncertain future, Citroen pinned its hopes on recruiting two time Australian Champion Eli Evans to run a DS3 together with Tony Sullens. Eli was hoping for some close competition from brother Simon, who took over the previous Hondas (both the Civic and the Jazz) but unreliability robbed the series of the anticipated close competition. Eli and co-driver Glen Weston dominated the series taking wins in all rounds except ACT where they damaged the sump on Heat but bounced back to win Heat 2. Their closest rivals were Molly Taylor, just returned from a number of years campaigning overseas, together with new co-driver, Bill Hayes, in Scott Pedder’s championship winning Renault Clio (Scott headed overseas for some international experience). They finished on the podium for every round.
As a sign of things to come, the 2WD cars were starting to be outgunned by 4WD cars, some running under the new G4 rules. For example, on the final round in South Australia, Eli Evans’ Citroen took maximum ARC points but finished off the podium behind Evo Lancers and the S2000 Corolla of emerging star, Harry Bates.
The 4WD series was closely fought between the Lancers of Canberra based Mick Patton and Tasmanian Marcus Walkem. While Patton and co-driver Bernie Webb score more points, the “best three” rule gave the award to Walken and co-driver Scott Walkem.
The Classic Challenge was closely fought between Bates and Taylor in the RA40 Celica and Queenslanders Clay Badenoch and Andrew Dunbar in a similar Celica. Problems at Rally Australia saw the withdrawal of the Bates Celica, handing the title to Badenoch.
To see other years of the ARC, go to the series page.
