Burnie’s Eddie Maguire has claimed outright victory at the inaugural Hellyer North West Rally of Champions tarmac rally, 23 seconds ahead of seven-time Targa champion Jason White.
Maguire, driving a V10-powered Dodge Viper ACR, and navigator Zak Brakey, traded close stage times with White and navigator uncle John White, in their similar specification Dodge Viper.
Such close competition did not allow White an opportunity to recover from losing 26 seconds on the first competitive stage due to a minor mechanical issue.
Finishing third outright and winning the Early Modern category was brother to Eddie, Burnie’s Steve Maguire and Hobart’s Stuart Benson in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X RS.
Making the rally a true family event, Eddie and Steve’s father, Paul Maguire, and older brother Hugh Maguire, won the Challenge 130 category in another Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.
“What a great day,” said Eddie. “it was fantastic to compete over roads that I grew up on and Hellyer Gorge has to be the best tarmac rally road in the country.
“It was also very special to also compete in an event with my Dad and brothers, even more so that we each won our categories,” says Eddie, who recently also won the 2020 Tasmanian Rally Championship.
Behind the Dodges of Maguire and White, and finishing third in the Modern category was Launceston’s Pete Nunn and Keith Johnstone in a Porsche Cayman GTS.
The remaining Early Modern podium positions were filled by Trevor Macleod and Steve Glenney, in a Nissan GT-R (second), while third went to Queenslander Tommy Monaghan and Sydney-sider Al Stephenson in a Subaru WRX STi.
The Classic category was dominated by Victorian’s Peter Gluskie and Samantha Winter and their BMW 325e, with a close battle following between the turbocharged Nissan Skylines of Scott Tatsi and Jie Holton (second), and Golly Roberts and Suzanne Atkins (third).
“This exciting new event attracted a strong field of competitors from both Tasmania and interstate and I’m extremely pleased, particularly having almost 1,000 people attend the waterfront finish line celebration Burnie Bites & Brews festival,” said Event Director Stuart Benson.
“Feedback from competitors, spectators and the local community has been overwhelmingly positive and that certainly assures a bright future of is community-focused event”.
Provisional scores can be viewed HERE
