Reinikka to test rally course

Race ace Allan Reinikka will be taking to the track for the Capricorn Resort Rally this weekend.

CHRIS ISON

THE dust will fly this weekend as the rally cars take to tracks around the coast for the Capricorn Resort Rally and hoping to be up there with the leaders is Rockhampton racing ace Allan Reinikka.

The event is being staged as a part of Motorama and Reinikka, a popular Morning Bulletin photographer, will be there racing his 1998 Hyundai Excel.

The section in which Reinikka aims for glory is the Hyundai Max Attack Challenge, a competition where much depends on the skill of the driver as machines there are pretty similar.

“They provide a cheap, affordable, low-cost entry into rallying,” he said.

“It is a section where you are competing against cars with basically the same specifications.”

Reinikka’s own car is a standard model with very few modifications.

“Apart from safety equipment the only modifications (in this section) is in the suspension,” he said.

Reinikka will drive but the entry is a true Morning Bulletin team effort as sitting next to him will be young reporter Liam Butterworth.

“Yeah, Liam is my navigator and he should have an exciting ride,” Reinikka chuckled.

“He has been out, not at speed, just to get familiar with the road book – he seems relaxed.”

Although Reinikka won’t know the exact route for the rally until he attends a pre-race meeting, he knows the track is of high quality for rallying.

“Most of it will be through the resort wetlands,” he said.

“They are the best (rally) roads in the state and that makes this rally a popular event.”

“There will also be a stage through the Byfield area.”

Nominations have been good considering the international rally of Queensland is being held on the Sunshine Coast in two week’s time. Thirty cars are listed with 11 driven by CQ teams.

Two locals who should be quick are Mark Byrne in his 1985 Datsun Stanza and Scott Ruff who drives a 1973 Holden Torana.

Both cars have been recently rebuilt and, all being well, should set some challenging times.

Another quick car will be driven by Gladstone’s former Queensland champion Paul Andrews who will take on the course in his 2001 Mitsubishi Lanser Evo 7.

Racing begins on Saturday from Capricorn Resort at 10am.