Australian Rally Championship revs up in Launceston
Published on 24 July 2018
The Tasmanian stage of the Australian Rally Championship will roar into action in Launceston on Friday, July 27.
The fourth stage of the national championship will see competitors spend three days competing across Northern Tasmania.
The City of Launceston provided $50,000 from its Conferences, Conventions and Championships Incentives budget to help secure the event in November last year.
Event organisers will hold a 900m Super Special Stage at the Inveresk Precinct under lights on Friday night.
Competitors will gather from 6pm with a special ceremonial start, followed by all the night action from 6.15pm at the Roundhouse.
It is rare to be able to see an entire rally stage, but this is one of those chances.
Each car will take on an 820m sprint around the Roundhouse and surrounding car park.
The cars will also be parked up around the Roundhouse, with the opportunity to view each car, and talk to all of the drivers and co-drivers.
There will be food trucks available for spectators.
The core of the weekend events takes place in the forests surrounding the City of Launceston.
Five stages are run twice during Saturday's first heat.
Competitors will take to the forests on either side of the Sideling off the Tasman Highway between Launceston and Scottsdale.
For spectators wishing to watch all the action, there is a dedicated viewing area in the bush, which is accessible via smooth gravel roads (via Camden Hill Rd).
Teams will be taking on the third and eighth stages of the event, a run around Mount Scott.
This point will be 8km into the stage, with a fast blast leading into the spectator point before they undertake a tight right hand junction before disappearing into the forest.
In between, the cars will return to Inveresk to undergo servicing at the Service Park. The mechanics will be frantically trying to change tyres, refuel the cars, make alterations to settings and fix any damage - all within 20 minutes.
TIMES
Stage 3 - Mount Scott 1 - First car is due at 9am
Service - Inveresk - First car is due 12.25pm
Stage 8 - Mount Scott 2 - First car is due at 2.30pm
Sunday’s second heat will be based north of Launceston, with three stages being run twice.
The first two tests are held in the Retreat Forest, about 20 minutes north of Lilydale, which is known for its fast and open forestry roads.
It is easily accessible from Lebrina (spectators will not be able to access this site from Bridport Road).
The final stage returns to the Lisle State Forest, which will also be the longest and most demanding.
Lonestar Ridge is accessible from the A3 Tasman Highway and through Patersonia, into the depth of Lisle Forest.
TIMES
Stage 13 - North Retreat 1 - First car is due at 8.50am
Stage 14 - Lonestar Ridge 1 - First car is due at 9.50am
Service - Inveresk - First car is due 11.40am
Stage 16 - North Retreat 2 - First car is due at 1.35pm
Stage 17 - Lonestar Ridge 2 - First car is due at 2.30pm
Sunday finish from 4.30pm
All cars will be finishing at Inveresk for the podium and champagne celebrations.
The public is welcome to attend all stages at the designated spectator areas, and entry is free.
A spectator guide will be available in The Examiner Newspaper later in the week.
TRAFFIC AND PARKING IMPACTS
COMMUTERS, TRAMSHED PATRONS AND TIGER BUS TRAVELLERS
Friday (July 27) - No parking will be available in the existing circle car park. Parking will instead be moved to the old cycle track next to UTAS Stadium. The Tiger Bus will leave from Inveresk on the southern side of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. Access will be off Invermay Road. Parking will be marked and attendants in place.
Saturday and Sunday (July 28 and 29) - Parking will not be available in the circle car park. Parking instead will be available at the Roundhouse off Forster Street and on the old Bike Track, off Invermay Road.
QVMAG PATRONS
Friday (July 27) - No parking will be available in the existing circle car park. Parking for QVMAG visitors will be on the old Bike Track off Invermay Road.
Saturday and Sunday (July 28 and 29) - Parking will not be available in the circle car park. Parking instead will be available at the Roundhouse off Forster Street, Willis Street and on the old Bike Track, off Invermay Road.
All parking returns to normal from Monday, July 30.
Please note, that due to a large number of competitors, support staff and spectators, there will be an increase in traffic in and around the CBD and Inveresk across the three days - from Friday to Sunday inclusive.