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Rally of the Bay 2022

Jul 03

Official Accommodation for the 2023 Lazer Rally of the Bay at Batemans Bay Marina Resort

By News, Rally, Rally of the Bay 2022

The organisers of the highly anticipated 2023 Lazer Rally of the Bay are pleased to announce that the official accommodation for this year’s event will be at the Batemans Bay Marina Resort. This stunning waterfront resort has once again been selected to provide a convenient and comfortable stay for the rally participants and their teams.

The Batemans Bay Marina Resort, located in the picturesque town of Batemans Bay, New South Wales, offers a range of luxurious cabins that provide the perfect retreat for rally teams. With breathtaking views of the marina and easy access to the rally Service Park, this resort is the ideal choice for those participating in the Lazer Rally of the Bay.

Teams are advised to book their accommodations early to secure their cabins so that teams can ensure they have a comfortable and convenient base during the rally.

One of the significant advantages of the Batemans Bay Marina Resort is its ample parking space, which includes parking for trucks and car trailers. This ensures that participants have secure and convenient parking facilities for their vehicles and equipment throughout the duration of the rally. The resort’s commitment to providing a comprehensive experience for rally teams sets it apart as an ideal accommodation option for the 2023 Lazer Rally of the Bay.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Batemans Bay Marina Resort for the official accommodation of the 2023 Lazer Rally of the Bay,” said Event Director, Nigel Bland. “The resort’s stunning location, comfortable cabins, and excellent parking facilities make it an ideal choice for our rally participants. We encourage all teams to secure their cabins early to guarantee a fantastic stay during the event.”

The 2023 Lazer Rally of the Bay is expected to draw participants and spectators from across the country. The event promises exhilarating rally action, showcasing the skills and expertise of the best rally drivers in the region.

To make reservations or for more information about the Batemans Bay Marina Resort, please visit their website at www.batemansbaymarinaresort.com.au

About Lazer Rally of the Bay:

The Lazer Rally of the Bay is an annual rally event held in Batemans Bay, New South Wales, showcasing the skills and thrills of rally drivers from across the region. It is known for its challenging forest stages and exciting competition, attracting participants and spectators alike.

About Batemans Bay Marina Resort:

Batemans Bay Marina Resort is a premier waterfront resort located in Batemans Bay, New South Wales. Offering comfortable cabins, stunning views, and excellent amenities, the resort provides an exceptional accommodation experience for leisure and event guests alike. With its parking facilities for trucks and car trailers, the resort caters to the needs of motorsport enthusiasts and rally teams.

May 19

Lazer Rally of the Bay to Thrill in 2023

By Rally, Rally of the Bay 2022

The 2023 Lazer Rally of the Bay is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and competitive rally events of the year. With drivers from all over the country set to compete in this iconic Australian event, spectators are sure to be in for a treat.

Organised by the North Shore Sporting Car Club, the Lazer Rally of the Bay is a gravel rally event that takes place in the beautiful Eurobodalla township of Batemans Bay, New South Wales. The event attracts some of the best rally drivers in the state, all vying for the coveted top spot on the podium.

This year’s event promises to be even more exciting than previous years, with several new drivers and teams entering the competition. One driver to watch out for is Richie Dalton, who has won the Rally of the Bay in past. Dalton will be driving his Toyota Yaris, and he’ll be hoping to add another victory to his already impressive rally career.

In addition to the professional drivers, the Rally of the Bay also features a number of amateur and semi-professional drivers, all competing in a variety of classes. This allows drivers of all skill levels to participate in the event and adds an extra level of excitement to the competition.

One of the most unique aspects of the Rally of the Bay is the scenic location. The rally takes place on the gravel roads of the beautiful Eurobodalla Shire in South Coast region of New South Wales, providing a stunning backdrop for the high-speed action. Spectators are encouraged to come out and enjoy the scenery as well as the rally, with vantage points and viewing areas available on the course.

As with any rally event, safety is of the utmost importance. The organisers of the Lazer Rally of the Bay have implemented measures to ensure the safety of both drivers and spectators, including strict speed limits and safety barriers in certain areas.

Overall, the 2023 Rally of the Bay promises to be an exciting and thrilling event for all involved. With the State’s best drivers, a beautiful location, and a passionate community of rally enthusiasts, this event is not to be missed.

The Lazer Rally of the Bay takes place on the 29th of July and includes 10 special stages (5 stages repeated).

Aug 15

Thrilling Result for the Lazer Rally of the Bay

By News, Rally of the Bay 2022

The Lazer Rally of the Bay has ended in thrilling circumstances with a dead heat declared for the top step of the Podium. The Mitsubishi Lancer team of Clayton Hoy and John Allen shared the event win with the Shamrock Motorsport team of Richie Dalton and Mac Kierans.

The roads in the Eurobodalla Shire are in the best condition they have been in for several years and driving conditions were ideal with a small amount of rain on Friday evening settling the dust.

A large crowd had gathered at the spectator point on the Dog Trap Stage, SS1, ready to cheer on their favourite teams and catch some of the exciting action. And they were in for a treat, as a mammoth battle was about to begin for the win in the 2022 Lazer Rally of the Bay.

Dalton set the early pace in his ProDriver Yaris AP4, winning the first stage on Dog Trap Rd by a margin of just 2 seconds over Hoy in the older Lancer Evolution 6. Dalton then extended his lead by a mere 1 second in the Buckenbowra stage, and then took another 4 seconds in the 25km Clyde Long stage to be leading by an overall margin of just 7 seconds.

But Hoy would fight back in the next stage, taking the win in the 10km Big Bit stage by 8 seconds to move into the lead. With one stage to go in Heat 1, and just 10km of competition left for the first pass over the stages, Hoy was quickest again, taking another 3 seconds off Dalton to win the first heat of the rally by 4 seconds.

Going into the Service break, Dalton felt he’d made a few wrong choices.

“Yeah, huge battle from stage one”, Dalton quipped. “We tried something different. We went on soft DMack tyres , which was a completely wrong choice for the first two stages and they were destroyed, especially as there was a lot of road cleaning in the second stage. I was speaking to Clayton afterwards and he actually went on a soft Hoosier tyre, so we changed over to the Hoosier’s for the last three stages and they worked well.”

“But we were as committed as we could, and he still took eight seconds off us. I don’t know where he got eight seconds in 10km’s, but good on him.”

Hoy also felt like tyre choice was a key factor in the morning stages.

“We put the pedal down a bit”, Hoy said. “But I think we had too soft of a tyre on the first two stages and we were rolling around a fair bit. But I’m quite surprised to be at Richie’s pace. It’s been a long time out of the seat and I’m quite happy. You can’t ask for anymore.”

“The roads suit the car,” Hoy continued. “You don’t need much suspension travel here, and I’m only driving at 90%. But hopefully we can go a bit quicker on the second loop and put a bit of pressure on Richie.”

The second loop around the stages was as just as thrilling as the first. Hoy won the second pass over Dog Trap and then Dalton won Buckenbowra. Dalton then took the win in the Clyde Long stage to take back the top position on the score sheet and was now leading the rally by 2.4 seconds.
The final stage was the repeat run over Big Bit in the dark, and with such a small margin, it was going to be a nail biter. Dalton was first into the stage and set a time of 5 minutes and 56 seconds, two seconds quicker than his previous pass in daylight.

At the end of the final stage, Dalton would need to wait for Hoy to arrive to see the time set.

“We gave it everything”, Dalton said. “I’m actually surprised Clayton took 8 seconds off us on the first run here today, because every other stage is 1 or 2 seconds either way. We had a really good run the last time, so we gave it everything. If it’s not enough, it’s not enough, but man, what a brilliant day.”

“The roads were just the best I’ve ever done. It was a really, really fast rally and it took massive commitment. What an enjoyable day and a big thanks to Mac for stepping in. We had a mighty time. So, I’m really, really happy. Whether it’s a win or not,

“I would like just want to thank all the organisers and volunteers, what a super day.” Dalton concluded.

But when Hoy arrived at the final control, he was faster by 2.8 seconds and that was enough to seal the win.

“Awesome,” Hoy exclaimed. “That was great. No doubt at all. Awesome.”

“This is only the fifth rally I’ve ever finished. And for sure, this tops it all. Finishing third in the Australian Rally Championship is nothing compared to this.” Hoy said.

But the competition conditions don’t allow for 10ths of a second timing, making the final result a dead heat.

Former NSW Rally champions, Tony Sullens and Kaylie Newell, finished the rally third in their Subaru WRX and were the only other crew to win a stage, taking the Buckenbowra 1 stage win by a 3 second margin.

Jul 28

Route Changes for Lazer Rally of the Bay

By News, Rally of the Bay 2022
Mick Harding in the Subaru WRX in wet conditions at the opening round of the NSW Rally Championship
Photo: Roy Meuronen

 

With less than three weeks before the Lazer Rally of the Bay, organisers have had to make several changes to the route.

“It’s not ideal to be making changes, but sometimes the weather can affect the condition of a road, so it makes sense to change it”, said Road Director, John McCredie.

“Runnyford Road has been impacted the most and Eurobodalla Shire Council made the decision that it was not suitable for our use. There are parts of the road that are fantastic, but then there are sections that are so wet, it’s impossible to use it for a rally. The Council are also doing road works in several sections and it’s just unsuitable for us to use.”

“We’ve extended the Buckenbowra stage by 6km. We’ve also changed the Clyde Long stage to avoid an area where there has been significant timber harvesting operations”.

“The changes mean the event is now 134km for the State teams and 124km for the Clubman competitors. We purposefully made the original route longer because we anticipated some weather events may play a part in the final route”, McCredie concluded.

With a full entry of 70 cars, there has been additional teams who wanted to enter. The revised route can now accommodate those extras and Event Manager, Nigel Bland is excited about the opportunity to allow more cars to enter the event.

“It’s fantastic to have a full field two weeks before entries close”, said Bland. “Plus, it’s great to be able to give a few more teams the opportunity to experience everything the Rally and the Eurobodalla Shire has to offer.”.

The Lazer Rally of the Bay is set to take place on Saturday the 13th of August in the forests surrounding Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast. The rally cars will be flagged away from Corrigan’s Beach Reserve in Batehaven. Lazer High Performance Lighting is the naming rights partner.

The 2022 Lazer Rally of the Bay is a round of the NSW Rally Championship and East Coast Classic Rally Series (ECCRS), and also incorporates the NSW Clubman and NSW Hyundai Series.

Jul 20

Entries rolling in fast for Lazer Rally of the Bay

By Rally of the Bay 2022

In less than a week, the Lazer Rally of the Bay has had a flood of entries with almost 50 teams signed up for the August 13th event.

“What a great response”, said Event Manager, Nigel Bland. “It’s really encouraging to see so many entries coming in so quickly.”

“It’s a great looking field, with Richie Dalton entered in his Toyota Yaris and Former Australian Rally Champion, Nathan Quinn in his Hyundai i20”, Bland continued.

“Peter Dimmock will also be running his Toyota Yaris, so we’ll have a great contingent of modern rally cars in the forest, as well as plenty of classic rally cars like the crowd favourite Mk2 Ford Escort of Sean McAloon”, Bland concluded.

Several new partners have also joined to be part of the Lazer Rally of the Bay, with Cavallino Motorsport and Simpson Race Products joining with the other partners for the 2022 edition of this classic event.

“With a full field of 70 cars expected, it’s difficult to predict a winner,” said Club President, Brett Middleton. “There are potentially a dozen drivers that could easily win, and I can’t wait to see the battle develop for the top step of the podium”.

“The local Eurobodalla community are looking forward to the positive economic impact, with significant spending generated for the Batemans Bay area”, Middleton concluded.

The Lazer Rally of the Bay is set to take place on Saturday the 13th of August in the forests surrounding Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast. The rally cars will be flagged away from Corrigan’s Beach Reserve in Batehaven. Lazer High Performance Lighting is the naming rights partner.

The 2022 Lazer Rally of the Bay is a round of the NSW Rally Championship and East Coast Classic Rally Series (ECCRS), and also incorporates the NSW Clubman and NSW Hyundai Series.

Jul 14

Entries Open for Lazer Rally of the Bay

By News, Rally of the Bay 2022, Spectators, Wheelspin
North Shore Sporting Car Club (NSSCC) has today opened entries for this year’s Lazer Rally of the Bay. The event is on 13th of August Crews will be able to commence unlimited reconnaissance immediately once their entry has been received.
NSSCC closely reviewed the event costs and this has resulted in an increase in the entry fee. For competitors who kept their entry with NSSCC from last years cancelled event, the increased fee will not apply, and the club will absorb the difference.
“We didn’t want to raise the entry fee”, said Brett Middleton, NSSCC President. “However, the cost of running the event has increased yet again, with many of our suppliers also increasing their fees. Rallysafe, Radio Network, Council road use Fees, Service Park Hire, Forestry Fees, the Medical Intervention Vehicles, and a bunch of other costs, are just some that affected us. Over 70% of our costs are fixed and non-negotiable.”
“We believe the event is still great value, but for the future sustainability of the sport, we as a club and the sport as a whole need to be realistic about event costs and make sure that it generates enough income to cover expenses and to guarantee the long-term viability of the rally”, he added.
 “Some clubs use sponsorship to reduce entry fees, but our club has a policy of only spending sponsors money on promoting their brand through promotion of the event and its rally teams .”
“Our organising committee is based predominantly in Sydney, therefore the costs of setting up and running the rally needs to be taken into consideration with things such as fuel and accommodation costs. Our team already donate hundreds of hours of time, the club can at least cover their costs. Our sports organisers are predominately an ageing crew, we need to encourage younger volunteers, we need to plan for the future sustainability of the sport,” Middleton concluded.
Event Manager, Nigel Bland, has put together a handy visual cost breakdown to help teams understand how their entry fee is distributed.
  • Fees includes all Bank, Credit Card Merchant, PayPal, NSW Rally Panel, Motorsport Australia Permit, Service Park Hire, Council Road Usage Fees, Forestry Permit and Forestry Per Car fees.
  • Operations includes Rubbish Bin Hire, Portable Toilets, Door Stickers, Rally HQ Hire, Printing Costs, RallySafe, RallySafe Support, Stationary and Postage.
  • Infrastructure includes Radio Communications, Rally HQ Equipment and Setup, Medical Intervention Vehicles and Staff, Barriers, Bunting, Signage and signage equipment.
  • Mandatory Advertising includes forest signage, newspaper advertisements and associated communications to local residents.
  • Setup and Accommodation includes the costs associated with the rally setup and pack up including accommodation, fuel, meals and other essential travel costs for senior officials who invest 50 hrs or more in volunteer time.
Jul 07

Businesses show support for Lazer Rally of the Bay

By Rally of the Bay 2022
Photo: The Shamrock Haulage Toyota Yaris AP4 – photo by Wishart Media

This year’s Lazer Rally of the Bay will feature more than 10 fantastic stages, Including the ever-popular Runnyford Road and a long 29km stage that utilises sections of the smooth and fast Clyde Ridge Road to the Northwest of Batemans Bay.

Lazer High Performance Lighting is the naming rights partner, and the rally will feature a night stage to allow teams running Lazer Lights to showcase the superiority of the Lazer product over conventional driving lights.

Rally stage names will reflect the businesses that have put their support behind the rally, with some familiar, and also new businesses getting involved. The stages will be separated into two heats with a service opportunity back in Batehaven at Corrigans Beach Reserve. The Hoosier Service Park will be a great opportunity for rally fans to get up close and personal with the teams and their machines.

Stage Sponsors include Shamrock Haulage, Shannons Insurance, Premier Pools, Prodriver Rally School, White Wolf Constructions. Premier Panel Beating, Prospeed Racing, Disc Brakes Australia (dba) Trailer Camper Australia, Techworkz Automotive and Motorsport Race Gear. Hoosier Tire Australia will take the name for the Hoosier Service Park.

Entries for the popular event are due to open next week and a long entry list is expected for this year’s approximate 150km rally. Organisers are expecting to see some big names entering including Motorsport Australia Rally Championship contender, Richie Dalton in the Shamrock Haulage Toyota Yaris AP4.

Throughout the event, stage and overall results will be fed directly from Rallysafe and be available on the Chris Sport website. https://www.chrissport.nz/index.php?c=aus

Jun 30

Route Set for Lazer Rally of the Bay

By Rally of the Bay 2022

The route for the 2022 Lazer Rally of the Bay has been finalised and crews who have entered the pace noted component of the event will soon be able to begin their reconnaissance.

The route for this year’s event has changed from previous years, with the extreme weather situation over the past 12 months affecting many of the local forest and shire roads. However, the good news is that the organising team has selected some fantastic stages in the forests surrounding Batemans Bay.

“It would have been easy to just duplicate the route we planned to use in last years cancelled event” Road Director John McCredie said. “But unfortunately, some major bridges have been washed away, so roads like the Western Distributor are closed and impassable. On top of that, the Ridge Road Stage has been affected by the major road work construction on the edge of town”.

“So, we had to get creative and use a few interesting Liaison sections to get access to the best roads. Which means we still get to use Ridge Road and Dog Trap Road on the Eastern Side of the Princes Highway, just to the west of Batehaven. We’ve just shortened it a little and reversed what we had planned for last year and this also allows us to keep a Spectator Point just 5 minutes from town”.

“Other roads are ones we’ve used before, including Runnyford Road and a 29km stage that starts in The Western Distributor and then uses Wallaby Road, Clyde Ridge Road and into Drury’s Road. We’ll also be using Bark Shed Road, and Big Bit Road, which haven’t been used for a while, but have been traditional Rally of the Bay stages in previous years”, McCredie concluded.

The event will use six stages, five of which will be repeated to provide a total of 11 stages. The Clubman component of the rally will consist of the first 10 stages. The main event will be approximately 150km with an announcement of stage partners due to be made next week.

The Lazer Rally of the Bay is set to take place on Saturday the 13th of August in the forests surrounding Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast. The rally cars will be flagged away from Corrigan’s Beach Reserve in Batehaven. Lazer High Performance Lighting are the naming rights partner.

Photo: Roy Meuronen

Jun 20

Lazer Rally of the Bay – A Battle of Youth and Experience

By Rally of the Bay 2022

EVENT DATE: 13th August 2022

Round 4 of the NSW Rally Championship is the Lazer Rally of the Bay, and it is shaping up to be a battle between youth and experience.

19-year-old Riley Walters will start the event in his Subaru WRX, with an 8-point lead in the NSW Rally Championship. Walters, who finished 2nd on the podium at last weekend’s Bega Valley Rally, is looking forward to the Batemans Bay based competition.

“When we started the season, we really didn’t come into it wanting or even expecting to be leading the Championship”, Walters said.

“This is the first time that I’ve competed in the NSW Rally Championship and after the challenges of the last two years getting the car right and finally being able to do some rallies post-Covid, I’m just having an absolute blast”

“There are so many talented drivers that we’re up against, and if this season isn’t our year, I still have plenty of time to try and win the series in the future. My co-driver Andrew Crowley has been a massive support, helping me to improve and find our rhythm, so it’s already been a winning year for me.

“The car still has a lot of improvements that we can make, but it’s very reliable, so we don’t want to push our luck with any changes at this stage of the Championship”, Walters concluded.

Walters and Crowley’s main rival will be Tony Sullens and co-driver Kaylie Newell, who won the Bega Valley Rally, sit 2nd in the NSW Championship standings, and are the current State Champions. Sullens has far more experience than his younger competitor and will be hoping that this experience will give him the edge at the Lazer Rally of the Bay.

There are many other contenders, including Tim Wilkins and Jim Gleeson in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9. Wilkins has had a string of bad luck at the last two Championship events, exiting both Round 2 and Round 3, whilst in the lead.

Event Manager, Nigel Bland is preparing for a big field on the 13th of August 2022 and expects the event to attract teams from all over Australia.

“We’re expecting a bumper entry”, Bland said. “The Lazer Rally of the Bay is a popular event and because it’s the first pace-noted rally since the beginning of the season, we know there are teams itching to get into the forests on pace-notes.”

“Once again, we’ll be basing our rally headquarters in the heart of Batemans Bay at the Batemans Bay Marina Resort, with our Service Park at Corrigan’s Beach Reserve in Batehaven”, Bland continued.

“Teams will come from mainly NSW, but I’m expecting to see at least a few Victorian and also a few Queensland based teams. As far as the roads go, we’ve been busy selecting the best roads in the area, and you can look forward to seeing Clyde Ridge Road, Wallaby Road, The Old Highway, Bark Shed Road, and a few other popular stages used”, Bland concluded.

The 2022 Lazer Rally of the Bay is a round of the NSW Rally Championship and East Coast Classic Rally Series (ECCRS), plus also incorporates the NSW Clubman and NSW Hyundai Series.

Lazer High Performance Lighting is the rally’s naming rights partner.

Photo: Riley Walters and Andrew Crowley at the Bega Valley Rally. Photo By Roy Meuronen

Nov 02

Lazer lights the way for Rally of the Bay

By Rally of the Bay 2021, Rally of the Bay 2022, Wheelspin

Andrew Penny and Rhys Llewellyn at the 2020 event. Photo: Roy Meuronen

The 2022 Rally of the Bay received a huge boost this week with the announcement that Lazer High Performance Lighting will be the events naming rights partner.

Announcing the new multi-year deal, Club President, Brett Middleton is thrilled with the new partnership and is expecting a big field for the event, now scheduled for a slightly later date of August 13. The event will be known as the ‘Lazer Rally of the Bay’.

“It’s great news”, said Middleton. “We’ve been busy planning for the 2022 event in the background and the new deal with Lazer Lamps is the perfect partnership. Lazer Lamps produce the best lighting solutions in the world for rally cars and also for production cars, so to have them as our naming rights partner is just fantastic.”

Kirk Marks is Lazer High Performance Lighting’s Regional Manager, and he was also extremely delighted with the new partnership.

“We are excited to be able to partner with the Rally of the Bay and to contribute to the ongoing success of the event run by the North Shore Sporting Car Club in Batemans Bay for over 20 years. Lazer Lamps have a competition pedigree starting over a decade ago, providing high performance lighting solutions for World Rally Championship Teams and now providing the same support for rally competitors in Australia”, Marks Said.

“We know the event is a competitor favourite and I can’t wait to be part of the action in August next year”, Marks Concluded.

Event Manager, Nigel Bland is preparing for a big field on the 13th of August 2022 and expects the event to attract teams from all over Australia.

“We are really looking forward to the 13th of August next year”, said Bland. “We have already started the planning process and are busy looking into ways to make the event even better than previous years.”

“Once again, we’ll be a Round of the NSW Rally Championship, but we expect that several teams in the Australian Rally Championship will want to include the Lazer Rally of the Bay in their schedules. We know this event is extremely popular and we expect there’ll be crews from interstate heading to Batemans Bay to experience the rally and everything the Eurobodalla Shire has to offer”, Bland continued.

The Lazer Rally of the Bay will be based out of Batemans Bay in the Eurobodalla Shire and will run on the 13th of August 2022. The event will be a round of the NSW Rally Championship, NSW Clubman Series, East Coast Classic Rally Series (2WD and 4WD) as well as a round of the Hyundai Rally Series.

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