Over 90 competitors are gearing up to race along the closed streets of Ellenbrook tomorrow night for the start of the Make Smoking History Tarmac West.
Running a new format in 2023, the Make Smoking History Tarmac West will comprise of three short and fast Rallysprint events.
Rally action at the Midland Toyota Ellenbrook Rallysprint starts tomorrow (Thursday, 7th September) at 6pm with competitors starting in 30-second intervals to race along the 1.8km stage four times, a total of 5.6 competitive kilometres.
Always a crowd favourite, with thousands of spectators expected to line the streets, it promises to be an evening of thrilling high-speed action. Rally drivers love nothing more than an audience, but they will need to exercise caution to avoid the high car-breaking kerbs.
Off track, the entertainment in Ellenbrook starts at 4pm with vibrant market stalls, kids’ activities, and mouth-watering food truck eats.
Sunday is fun day. From 8am to 11.30am on Sunday 10th September, the industrial area of Malaga will screech to life as competitors throw their cars sideways around tight corners and go flat out on straights along the 5.85km stage. They’ll each tackle the stage four times, a total of 23.4 competitive kilometres.
Also on Sunday morning, the Engine Shop City Sprint, which is for drivers only (no co-drivers), will run in the Terrace Road car park adjacent to Victoria Ave from 9am to 12pm.
Following on, from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday, the competitive action continues in the City of Perth Rallysprint. Competitors will negotiate 2.1km of twisty turns at speed in the Terrace Road car park and then hit full pace along Riverside Drive, adjacent to Langley Park. They’ll do this four times to clock up 8.4 competitive kilometres.
The car with the fastest time overall, wins.
From 10am to 3pm on Sunday, the city will be transformed into a motoring enthusiasts’ Mecca. The Schlam Celebration of Motorsport and the Celebration of Hot Rods and Street Machines is the finest collection of automobiles with hundreds of vehicles from all eras on display, along with the Shannons Classics on the Swan on the river’s edge.
Check out the Ridin’ Free Stunt Team, jump on the Red School Bus Monster Truck or the kiddos Lions Train Rides, and there’s fun Helicopter rides too.
Best of all, it’s all free entry.
Competitors to watch
In the past couple of years, Troy Wilson (#1) has left the competition in his dust, dominating in his 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10. The fearless former West Coast Eagle will be looking for a repeat performance.
Matt Cherry (#2) finished second outright in Malaga last year in his pocket rocket, a Racing Dynamics 1982 Toyota Starlet. That little red hatchback is fast, blink and you’ll miss it.
Mark Cates (#3) might still be having nightmares about Ellenbrook’s high kerbs after they ended his rally in 2020. With a new full-factory carbon-fibre limited edition race car, one of only 200 in the world, you can bet he’ll be testing the limits in his Axis Hire 2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Club Sport.
Peter Rullo (#44) won’t want a repeat of last year’s disaster when delaminated tyres forced a retirement. He is fast in his 2020 SSC Lotus Exige GT and with his son a favourite, you can bet the competition will be fierce given bragging rights at family dinners on the line.
Alex Rullo (#4) has a few Targa events under his belt, he’s raced in V8 Supercars, and in gravel rallies. In his 2020 Hyundai i20 Rally 2, he’ll be pushing it to the limit to beat his old man.
Will White (#6) has now had a few seasons to get to grips with his powerful and heavy Dardenup Removals 2018 Nissan GTR Nismo, so he’s expected to be in the mix.
Daniel Gonzalez (#22) has shown real pace at past events and the same is expected this year in his Realty Lane 1999 Porsche 911 GT3.
In his previous car, Simon Gunson (#35) was unstoppable in the classic category. That car is sold, and this year he’s in another classic, his GTi Process Controls 1980 Ford Escort Mk II.
The oldest car is the WA Salvage Liquidations 1967 Mini Cooper driven by Nigel Jones (#84), a nostalgic crowd favourite.
Just because it grunts like an angry bull, watch out for Chris Caruso (#14) in his Wyldcat Racing 2008 Dodge Viper ACR.
From Mustangs to Mitsubishi Evos, Fords to Holdens, and a big mix of Chevrolets, Subarus, BMWs, Datsuns, Hondas, Teslas and more, there’s a huge mix of cars and characters that’ll create high-octane excitement that only Tarmac West can generate.
The 2023 Tarmac Events WA Rally Calendar
|
Make Smoking History Tarmac West |
7 – 10 September |
|
The Engine Shop City Sprint |
10 September |
|
GT Fabrication Bunbury Rallysprint |
19 November |
|
Make Smoking History Tarmac Cup |
Annual Series |
Shannons Rallysprint at Perth Motorplex
Five events held on Thursdays once per month from November to March
For assistance on quitting smoking, please see www.quitnow.gov.au.