THEY’RE loud, fast and spend much of their time sideways – classic rally cars from yesteryear are planning a show of spectacular driving to rival their modern counterparts in the International Rally of Queensland on the Sunshine Coast next week. A field of 13 pre-1983 rally cars, the biggest assembled in Australia this year, has entered the final round of the Australian Classic Rally Competition during the 30 July-1 August event.

Representing legendary models from past World Rally Championships such as the Ford Escort BDA, Datsun Stanza, Datsun 1600SSS, Fiat 131 Abarth, Porsche 911, Triumph TR7 V8 and Mazda RX-7, the Classics have attracted thousands of fans at their previous appearances this year in South Australia and New South Wales.

And drivers such as five-time Australian Champion Ross Dunkerton, Stewart Reid, Keith Callinan, Jack Monkhouse and Wayne Hoy are equally popular for their flamboyant styles at the steering wheel.

In Queensland, the Classics will run on the competitive Special Stages ahead of main-game competitors in the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship and Australian and Queensland Rally Championships.

While turbocharged engines and all-wheel drive make modern rally cars devastating quick and effective, the Classics promise spectators at the Coates Hire Rally Shootout and Imbil Special Stages more visceral excitement.

Without the benefit of all-wheel drive traction, drivers have to pitch their cars sideways to slow or turn them and work hard to tame the horsepower produced with distinctive-sounding Weber carburettors.

Event Director Errol Bailey says the record Classics entry is a coup for the International Rally of Queensland.

“Classic rallying is a fast-growing movement and our spectators will be fortunate to see such a strong line-up for the season finale in Queensland,” he said.

“The cars look and sound spectacular and are superbly presented. They take spectators back to some of the greatest eras of world rallying, while being recognisably related to the ordinary road cars many of us drove 40 years ago.

“The cars might be old, but the drivers won’t spare them and I guarantee there will be some breathtaking driving. By the time the Classics go through the spectator points and the Asia Pacific cars arrive at high speed, the crowd will be yelling for more.”

The International Rally of Queensland starts with the Coates Hire Rally Shootout at Caloundra on Friday night and continues with two days of forestry Special Stages around Imbil and Kenilworth in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

The rally cars will visit Kenilworth on Saturday morning for a remote service break and Cooroy on Saturday afternoon for a public meet-and-greet session.

Pre-event discount tickets can be purchased at www.rallyqueensland.com.au.

General Admission Adult prices are $20 for Friday night and $15 for Saturday or Sunday. Tickets for children aged 14 or over are $5, or free with a coupon printed exclusively in the Sunshine Coast Daily on 21, 23, 25, 28 and 31 July.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION

Friday 30 July
(from 7.30pm Super Special Stages 1, 2)
5.30 pm Caloundra, Coates Hire Rally Shootout super special stage and rally show (tickets required)

Saturday 31 July
(from 8.25am Special Stages 2-10)
8am Kenilworth, competitor service break
5 pm Cooroy, rally crews meet-and-greet and car display
5.30pm Imbil, U ROCK with IROQ dance party
All day Imbil, Spectator Park (tickets required)
All day Imbil, Novus Autoglass Service Park

Sunday 1 August
(from 8.22am, Special Stages 11-18)
All day Imbil, Spectator Park (tickets required)
All day Imbil, Novus Autoglass Service Park
3.30pm Imbil, Novus Autoglass Service Park, official finish and podium presentation

Ticket Prices
(General Admission tickets discounted 20 percent until 26 July)

Friday 30 July
Coates Hire Rally Shootout, Caloundra
General Admission, adult $20, child (under 14) $5*
Corporate Hospitality Party Deck, adult $145 (10 people, pay for nine $1305), includes two-course meal, bar, parking

Saturday 31 July, Sunday 1 August
Imbil Spectator Park
General Admission, per day adult $15, child (under 14) $5*
Corporate Hospitality, per day $99 (10 people, pay for nine $891), includes two-course meal, bar, parking

Event Super Pass (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
General Admission adult $35, child (under 14) $10*

* Children admitted free with original coupon printed in Sunshine Coast Daily on 17, 21, 23, 24, 28 and 31 July, when accompanied by a paying adult.

On-line tickets and spectator information are available at www.rallyqueensland.com.au.

The International Rally of Queensland is benefiting from Significant Regional Event Scheme (SRES) funding under the Queensland  Events Regional Development Program (QERDP).

The QERDP is an investment program designed to extend the flow of economic and social benefits of events to regional Queensland. The SRES celebrates and supports those events that have a particularly strong track record of growth and economic success for their region.

A state-wide initiative, the program is committed to enhancing existing events in regional Queensland, as well as assisting in the establishment of new events.

Since the QERDP began in 2001, more than $15.3 million has been invested in 705 regional events, an indicator of the important role these events play in their communities and wider Queensland.

IROQ also is supported by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.