Racers set to take on the forest

Drivers from across the country are flocking to the region this week as they prepare to face off in the Make Smoking History Forest Rally.

One of the most established events on the CAMS Australian Rally Championship, the event starts in Busselton tonight on the Trade Hire Busselton Special Stage around Barnard Park.

The race will continue on Saturday and Sunday on Nannup’s main street and into the surrounding forests — a highlight for drivers like defending Forest Rally champion Molly Taylor.

“The Forest Rally roads are some of my favourite roads in the whole country,” she said.

“As all the drivers will tell you, the surface adds an extra challenge but at the same time, they are so well-built and maintained you can really get into a great rhythm, which makes it a very enjoyable event.”

Fellow competitors Harry Bates, Kody Reynolds and Brad Markovich shared Taylor’s anticipation to race the ball-bearing forest tracks when they spoke with the Times this month, each of them hopeful to earn a top spot in the round.

Racers return to Barnard Park on Saturday night before the podium finish is held back in Nannup on Sunday.

Along with the 59 crews competing in the event, the Forest Rally is expected to attract about 4500 visitors to the region and deliver about $1 million into the local economy.

City of Busselton director of community and commercial services Cliff Frewing said the race was “the only rally-style car racing event held in the City of Busselton”.

“The Busselton foreshore provides the perfect backdrop for this fast-paced family event and we are very pleased to continue to support it,” he said. Nannup Shire president Tony Dean also welcomed the race as an opportunity to promote tourism in regional towns.