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Karri Rally to light up forest

Tristan WheelerManjimup-Bridgetown Times
Last year's winner John O'Dowd on course.
Camera IconLast year's winner John O'Dowd on course. Credit: Gemma Lucas

The penultimate round of the State Rally Championship is heading to Manjimup this Saturday, with the two-stage Karri Rally set to take place in the forest near Nyamup.

Ben Searcy and Jimmy Marquet take a corner at speed during last year's rally.
Camera IconBen Searcy and Jimmy Marquet take a corner at speed during last year's rally. Credit: Blake Rattenbury

Presented by Smarter than Smoking and organised by RallyWA, the rally is split into 22km and 16km stages, which each car will complete three times.

As well as the State Rally Championship, drivers will compete for the Clunman Cup.

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Clerk-of-course Neil Trethowen said historically the Karri Rally was one of the faster rallies on the calendar.

“A lot of that is due to the width of the roads in the forestry areas,” he said.

“They’ll get up to speeds of about 180km in some of the sections of road out there.”

Last year’s winner John O’Dowd said he loved rallying in the region.

“I love rallying in that part of the world whether it’s on tarmac or on gravel, so yeah, can’t wait to get down there,” he said.

“It’s pretty fast, pretty flowing, technical in places, but a good rally, I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Spectators will not be allowed on course this year, but are welcome to visit the service park on Rutherford Street in Manjimup at 1.50pm and 4pm to see the rally cars.

“There won’t be a spectator point on course this year, but the public is welcome to the service park in Manjimup to see the competitive cars gathered there,” Mr Trethowen said.

“We are a COVID-19 aware event, so we kindly ask that the public and competitors observe the health recommendations regarding social distancing and hygiene on the event.”

Mr Threthowen thanked the Manjimup region for its support of the event.

“The rally is held in picturesque forestry land which we’d like to thank the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions for granting us access to,” said Trethowen.

We’d also like to thank the Manjiump community who always make the event feel welcome and the Manjimup police for the assistance they give us.”

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