N-couraging day for Reeves at Rally Canberra

Victorians Brendan Reeves and Kate Catford have finished day one of the Netier Rally of Canberra in fourth place.

Piloting a Hyundai i20 N R5 in the opening round of the Australian Rally Championship (ARC), it is Reeves’ first event in the national championship for six years. The event also marks Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s first rally entry since Reeves’ finished 15th outright in a showroom-specification i30 N hatchback at the 2019 Targa Tasmania.

 

Reeves only took possession of the i20 N R5 a week ago, putting it through a test session at his home track in Wedderburn, Victoria last weekend.  He then had further seat time in the pre-event testing on Thursday and reconnaissance on Friday and reported that the car “felt amazing”.

 

Day one of the event started with five stages in the Brindabella area with dust greeting competitors on stage one before rain arrived on stage four.

 

 

Like a number of other crews, Reeves was working the brakes hard on the sandy, narrow roads, causing them to overheat, and he also suffered a rear puncture on stage three, resulting in some time lost.  He went into the lunch time service in fifth place.

 

After a few minor adjustments to the car’s set up at the lunch break, Reeves and Catford took more confidence into the two afternoon stages in the Kowen Forest.

 

The Kowen roads, which are good logging roads in the Kowen pine plantation, offered much more grip and suited Reeves’ driving style better. He was able to take some time back from his nearest rival, Eli Evans (Mini Cooper AP4), setting third fastest time in stages 4, 6 and 7, and finished the day in fourth position.

 

“It’s been a good day,” Reeves commented.  “The car got better and better as the day progressed.”

 

“We made a few minor adjustment throughout the day and will make a few small changes tonight ahead of day two."

 

“Our aim is to keep developing the car and for our first outing in the i20 N I’m really happy with how things are progressing.”

 

 

On day two of Rally of Canberra, competitors will return to Kowen Forest for a further five stages, totalling 62 kilometres.

 

Reeves and Catford will be pushing to improve their outright position and finish on the podium.

 

Results - Day 1 Netier Rally of Canberra

 

1. Harry Bates / John McCarthy (Toyota GR Yaris AP4)

2. Shane Van Gisbergen / Glen Weston (Skoda Fabia R5)

3. Eli Evans / Adam Wright (Mini Cooper AP4)

4. Brendan Reeves / Kate Catford (Hyundai i20 N R5)

5. Taylor Gill / Kim Bessell (Subaru WRX Sti)

 

Images: Wishart Media

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