The emergence of 4WD Turbo forest racers

With the transition from predominantly rear-wheel drive cars to 4WD turbo production rally cars (either Australian PRC or FIA Group N), the decade saw the emergence of such cars as the Subaru Impreza, Toyota Celica GT-four, Mitsubishi Galant VR4 and later Lancer RS. Also achieving some success nationally and certainly at a state level were cars such as the Ford Sierra XR4, Mazda 323, and Nissan Pulsar GTi-R. All events at the national and state championship level were special stage events and by mid decade many were pace noted. In 1997 the ARC adopted a dual heat format which would eventually be adopted at the state level.

In many ways these developments were underpinned by the annual Rally Australia run out of Perth and for most years a round of the WRC. It would be difficult to understate the impact that this had on Australian rallying at the national and state level, as more and more competitors adopted newer production rally cars. At the end of the decade Rally of Canberra attained Asia Pacific Rally Championship status which it held for most of the next decade, attracting overseas Group N cars and competitors, particularly from New Zealand, Japan and Malaysia.

That year also saw the importation of two WRC cars by Possum Bourne (an Impreza WRC) and Neal Bates (a Corolla WRC) which ran in the ARC under PRC rules for three years. While spectacular, it largely turned the ARC into a “two horse race” and it was discontinued in 2002.

Two wheel drive cars were still around, especially older ones, and particularly at the state and club level. Many were run in the Club Rally Car category. Towards the end of the decade the Historic Rally Car category was formally recognised.

The appetite for endurance events was still there and round Australia trials were conducted in 1995 and 1998, but both were special stage events with lengthy touring sections.