Neal Bates and Coral Taylor end 13 year drought

Australian rally stalwarts Neal Bates and Coral Taylor won their fourth national title by claiming the 2008 Australian Rally Championship over the weekend. Confirmation of their title came after some cautious driving in difficult conditions during the Coffs Coast Rally. Bates and Taylor guided their Team TRD Corolla to eighth position in Saturday’s Heat 1 , and in doing so secured enough points to win the title with a day to spare.

The win ends a 13 year drought for the long time rally partnership. “I am absolutely over the moon,” Bates said. “It has been 13 years between championships and overall it was a very tense day as we were listening out for every noise and squeak, but the S2000 Corolla has been faultless all year and it was again today.

“Probably 80 per cent of the work in rallying is done before you get to an event so it is a big thanks to our incredibly smart bunch of guys in Canberra that have made this championship happen.”

Coral Taylor was both relieved and satisfied with their fourth Australian Rally Championship. “It is pretty amazing,” Taylor said. “I am not really sure where the last 13 years has gone since our last title but it is wonderful to win it again.”

BATES TAKES FOURTH TITLE

Team TRD Rally’s Neal Bates has secured an historic fourth Australian Rally Championship following a measured drive in tough conditions in Heat 1 of the Coffs Coast Rally.

Bates and co-driver Coral Taylor finished eighth for the Heat and scored enough points to take the title on the penultimate day of the season.

However, heavy rain during the last two stages meant an anxious wait for the now four-time champions as they battled their way through the slippery, clay-based roads of the Coffs-area forests.

“I am absolutely over the moon,” Bates said. “It has been 13 years between championships and overall it was a very tense day as we were listening out for every noise and squeak, but the S2000 Corolla has been faultless all year and it was again today.

“We were very conservative but I wasn’t going to throw it away after 13 years. I didn’t enjoy driving that way, but the end result is what we came here for. It is the first time an S2000-spec car has won the ARC and it is a real credit to the entire TRD team.

“Probably 80 per cent of the work in rallying is done before you get to an event so it is a big thanks to our incredibly smart bunch of guys in Canberra that have made this championship happen.

“Because it has been so long between drinks this feels pretty special. Your first championship is always the best, but we will really cherish this one when it is all over tomorrow.”

Co-driver Taylor was equally happy with the result and was relieved they had finally secured the title.

“It is pretty amazing,” Taylor said. “I am not really sure where the last 13 years has gone since our last title but it is wonderful to win it again.

“It has been the longest day ever as it is easier to fight for the outright win than it is to just get to the finish, so I am relieved the day is over.

“However, we really need to thank Toyota who we have worked with for an extremely long time and have always stuck by us. They have also supported the ARC for a long time so we are very grateful for that.”

The Corolla has now secured the last three ARC Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships and has recorded 12 consecutive outright victories extending back to the end of the 2006 season.