2024 Victorian Rally Championship

The 2024 Victorian Rally Championship was won by Adrian Stratford and Anthony Staltari in a Ford Fiesta G4. They were challenged by Warren Lee and David Lethlean in their Lancer Evo 9, who performed consistently scoring points in every heat. Stratford and Staltari failed to score points in the Ada River Rally after being sidelined with electrical issues, but scored five wins and a third over the other six heats, and won the championship once one result was dropped.

2WD Champions: Nick Seymour, Ford Fiesta R2
2WD Champion Co-Driver: Peter Ellis (with Ross Stapleton)

2WD under 2000cc: David Bern, Hyundai Excel
Co-driver: Jack West (with Thomas West)

Clubman Award: Ross Stapleton / Peter Ellis, Nissan 200 SX

Novice Award: Lucas Reed / Isaac Draper, Hyundai Excel

To see what else happened during 2024 in Victorian rallying, go to the 2024 year page.

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

Adrian Stratford and Anthony Staltari on the 2024 Akademos (Aaron Mordue)
Adrian Stratford and Anthony Staltari on the 2024 Akademos (Aaron Mordue)

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 200 km.

Eligible vehicles were PRC, Group N, Group N(P), S2000, Historic Rally Cars, Classic Rally Cars, Club Rally Cars and CAMS Group G2, AP4 and G4. S1600 and Group R5 were not eligible for VRC points or class awards.

Awards were made for outright champions, 2WD, 2WD under 2 litre, Clubman and Novice.  There were also car class awards as follows: PRC and Group N up to 1400cc, 1401-1600cc, 1601-2000cc, 2WD over 2000cc, PRC 4WD over 2000cc (split into two classes, essentially pre and post 1998, pre excluding any vehicles with fully active differentials, post including S2000), Historic Rally Cars, Classic Rally Cars, Club Rally Cars,  S2000, ARC G2 and G4/AP4. There was also a series for Hyundai Excels.

All awards were allocated 30-25-21-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 for first to fifteenth.  Crew registration was automatic for the first half of the season, but crews members could elect not to register for VRC points. With eight heats, the worst single result was dropped. All awards required competitors to compete in at least 50% of the events.

Events

There were 4 VRC rounds in 2023, each with two heats so 8 heats in all. The Valley Stages was calendared but was cancelled.  Click on the event to see more details.

  1. Mitta Mountain Rally (NECC)
  2. Ada River Rally (WDCC)
  3. Gippsland Rally (Vroom and CCRMIT)
  4. Akademos Rally (MUCC)

Pointscores

Class Awards

PRC/N under 1400cc: Not awarded

PRC/N 1401-1600cc: David Bern, Hyundai Excel
Co-driver: Jack West (with Thomas West)

PRC/N 1601-2000cc: Rohan Teagle / Ashley Allan, Ford Escort Mk2

PRC/N 2WD over 2000cc: Nick Seymour / Peter Ellis, Nissan 200SX

PRC/N 4WD over 2000cc post 1998: Warren Lee / David Lethlean, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9

PRC/N 4WD over 2000cc pre 1998: Simon Ellis / Ian Ellis, Subaru Impreza WRX

G4/AP4: Adrian Stratford / Anthony Staltari, Ford Fiesta

HRC: Not awarded

Club Rally Cars: Jesse Robison / Troy Hutchins, Datsun Sunny

Classic Rally Cars: James Leoncini / Mark Leoncini, Toyota Corolla

Excel: Lucas Reed, Hyundai Excel
Co-driver: Stuart Reid (with Geoff Holloway)