The SNAP SMU Racing team have blitzed the prologue field at the Coates Hire Rally Australia Off Road event, round four of the Australian Off Road Championship 60km north of Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales coast.
Matt Hanson and Leigh Wells stormed home in dusty conditions in a time of 10:12.513 – 2.938 seconds ahead of the Springwood Car Care team of Gerald Reid and Laurence Cripps #3 with a time of 10:15.453.
The Nail It Racing team’s #79 with Jared Melville and Kurt March in charge rounded out the prologue podium, finishing the 11km track in 10:32.328.
25 of the 32 nominations completed the prologue.
Team Taylor’s weekend hasn’t had a great start with the #6 of Nev Taylor hitting a tree in reconnaissance, tearing off the front stub and unable to start prologue. The #24 of Ryan Taylor also didn’t start prologue with shock absorber dramas. Ryan also didn’t complete the long course reconnaissance with an engine misfire and then returned from prologue reconnaissance with a flat front right tyre.
Current AORC points leaders Shannon and Ian Rentsch clipped a tree in the #33 SR Racing Jimco, the team cautiously limping back to the pits. Latest report is that the Jimco sustained minor damage and has applied for seeding in the field for section one.
Michael Marson #32 failed to start to prologue with radiator issues, #304 Rogan Dallas hit tree during his prologue run, #803 Clayton Chapman appear to have suspension dramas, #47 Tim Baker suffered a flat tyre.
The seven teams that failed to finish prologue have all applied to be seeded in to the start order for today’s section one of two laps of the 52km course.