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Team News from MRT

Sunday 4th May - Rally of Canberra. Day 2

The second day of the Subaru Rally of Canberra began in the Kowen Forest approximately 20mins East of Canberra City. The MRT crew were all pumped up, with the EcuTeK Citibank Ready Credit Subaru all ready for the days 93km of stages. A brand new spectator facility had been created in the forest including corporate marquees, a crossover (where the cars travel under and over a man made earth bridge) as well as heaps of other attractions.

Kowen North was SS 1 and with heavy dust, crews started at 3 minute intervals instead of 2. MRT begun carefully and as they approached the crossover from a huge long straight they braked heavily and lifted slightly at 120km/h off the crest of the crossover, this enabled them to brake even harder to make the immediate left-hand corner after. Then was an even closer right-hander which tightens and this was clipped a little early by driver Brett. "I cut the corner and was a little concerned as the inside line was off camber. As we entered the apex, the car dug in and the Falken Tyres gripped a little too much and we ended up on 2 wheels." Brett said. "So over we went and rolled 1 1/2 times" As they sat there waiting for a push, back onto our wheels, the smell of oil and water worried the team.

Meanwhile, John Smailes (Channel 10) and Neal Bates (WRC rally car driver) both whom were commentating at the same place ran over and pushed them back onto the wheels! The team completed the stage and also the following Kowen South (20km) stage with no power steer and a badly smashed windscreen. With a long way to go, the team arranged a new windscreen, power steering pump and alternator. This damage was as a result of the car rolling hard over the bonnet / hood. "I was worried if something else was about to break and with lots of fast straight roads left in the rally, it was a bit risky." Brett said "The car will need a few new panels, but Keith at Premier Panel Beating has not seen us for some time"

The car was repaired to continue the rally in the following service with the bonnet and front panels bent back into shape. The power steering pump was replaced (with thanks to Atkinson Racing) and the car was back and running.

Kowen North was run a second time and this time made it through the spectator stage without a scratch. It wasn't until later, nearly 3km before the end of the stage, that we suffered the same fate as many other crews. On a fast part where crews would brake for a corner, a huge gutter formed that bounced cars up into the air and then a heavy nosedive into a second gutter. Huge amounts of dirt and rocks came over the windscreen and in thru the roof vent. The result was a badly bent sump guard and possible engine damage.

With all this drama and damage, the team decided to withdraw at the end of the stage to not risk any further damage to the Car. The MRT Impreza will be back at the workshop and repaired for the next rally. With the Falken Rally of Queensland coming soon, followed by the rest of the ARC, then International Rally of New Zealand and another overseas event yet to be announced, the crew of MRT will have their hands busy getting the Impreza STi ready in time.

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