RALLY RETRO FESTIVAL 2021 ANNOUNCED

MEDIA RELEASE/Historic Rally Association – Photos: Bruce Keys

The date for the 3^rd running of the successful Rally Retro Festival has been announced. Saturday February 27 2021 is the date rally fans should put in their diaries.  Once again it will be at the METEC Driver Education Centre in Bayswater. 

Plans are well underway to make the 3^rd running even bigger than 2020. Invitations have already been accepted by Neal Bates, the 4 times national champion who brought 3 winning Toyota Celica’s from Canberra to the 2020 event. Some other very special rally cars, new to Rally Retro are being chased down to build on the extraordinary collection of cars that were on display in 2020.

As well, the ‘Voice of World Rally’, famous Scotsman Colin Clark has indicated he will be there in 2021 to soak up the Australian history of his favourite motorsport.

Rally Retro is a unique style of car show where fans have the chance to see and hear historic rally cars in action on a short course, as well as seeing them on display. They are able to mingle with the owners, many of them State or National rally champions and see the cars up close. Additionally, for 2021, fans will have the chance to hitch a ride in their favourite rally car to sample ‘historic rallying’ first hand on the demonstration course   

Architect of the event Rob Cranston said today: “The event’s reputation is building so fast. This year we attracted cars from 4 states and spectators from Sydney and Brisbane. The unique format allows the owners to have fun in the cars and we get to enjoy seeing them doing what they were made for.”

Despite the current woes of the world, Cranston is confident the 2021 Rally Retro will be bigger than this year.  He said: “We’re building on each year and we have plans for 2021 that will further engage rally fans. We can’t wait to open the gates come February 27.” 

NOT JUST HISTORIC RALLY CARS

While the day is all about the sights and sound of rally cars from the past, it’s also a place to spot some motorsport royalty.  No less than 10 Australian Rally Champions with 23 titles between them were at the 2020 event, including Kate Officer, the first woman to hold an Australian Motorsports national title (Co-driver 1984), and Molly Taylor, the first woman to win the Australian Rally Driver’s Championship, in 2016. The organisers plan to host an even bigger contingent of champions at the 2021 event.     

The METEC Driver Education Centre proved ideal with the elevated display area providing a perfect vantage point to view the rally cars taking to the track for controlled demonstration runs. The location in the Eastern suburbs attracted a large crowd of spectators, with 200 cars coming through the gate in the first hour alone.

METEC Driver Education centre is at 112 Colchester Road, Bayswater North.

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