Victorian Rally Championship


The Victorian Rally Championship was the evolution series of car rallies in Victoria, Australia. Prior to 1972, car rallies/trials relied heavily on the ability of a navigator to read a map and direct their driver over a planned course covering shire roads and forest tracks at night.
In 1972 the series evolved in line with the improvement of forest tracks, and the population of properties along Shire roads – into a more driver-oriented event.
Route instructions became comprehensive, making it easier for a crew to avoid getting lost, and results were effectively determined by how fast the drivers drove on the generally narrow forest roads.
Since 1990, many of these events have been held during daylight hours – making the competition more attractive to spectators.
At present, the Victorian Rally Championship includes awards for overall champion, two wheel drive champion, and class champions. Two single car make championships are associated with the Victorian Rally Championship: The Fiesta Rally Series and the Grant Walker Parts Excel Rally Series.

Victorian Rally Champions

Winners of the Victorian Rally Championship and the preceding Victorian Trials Championship are as follows:
YearDriverNavigator/Co-DriverCar
1961Geoff RussellMartin Hartigan-
1962Geoff RussellR.H.Collingwood-
1963Harry FirthGraham Hoinville-
1963Frank KilfoyleMike Flanagan-
1964Frank KilfoyleRoger Abraham-
1965Harry FirthGraham Hoinville-
1966Tony RobertsPeter Haas-
1967Reg Lunn*Roger Vaughan *-
1968Bob WatsonJim McAuliffe-
1969Bob WatsonJim McAuliffe-
1970Bob WatsonJim McAuliffe-
1971Mal McPhersonPeter Haas-
1972**Gil DavisRoger Bonhomme-
1973Bob WatsonJeff Beaumont-
1974Garrie HarrowfieldGeoff Boyd-
1975David BondIan Richards-
1976Bob WaterhousePaul Paterson-
1977Gil DavisDavid Long-
1978Warwick SmithPaul Paterson-
1979Warwick SmithPaul Paterson-
1980Chris BrownSimon Brown-
1981Geoff PortmanRoss Runnalls-
1982Chris BrownNoel Richards-
1983David OfficerKate HobsonMitsubishi Galant
1984Peter A Thompson*Anthony Sartory*Datsun P510
1985Brian SmithJohn BirrellMitsubishi Sigma
1986Geoff PortmanPeter GaleDatsun 1600
1987Geoff PortmanPeter GaleDatsun 1600
1988David GreigPaul TirantDatsun P510
1989Greg HoinvilleMichael CainsFord Escort Mk.2
1990David GreigPaul TirantDatsun 260Z
1991Peter FyfeGerry BashfordNissan Pulsar
1992Peter FyfeGerry BashfordNissan Pulsar
1993Graeme WiseHelen WylieMitsubishi Lancer Evo
1994Graeme WiseHelen WylieMitsubishi Lancer Evo
1995Graeme Wise*Greg Foletta*Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
1996Graeme WiseRob BeekmanMitsubishi Lancer
1997Mike ReevesRobin SmalleyMitsubishi Galant VR4
1998Craig MorrisJenny ColeMitsubishi Galant VR4
1999Scott PedderPaul HummMitsubishi Lancer Evo
2000Scott PedderPaul HummMitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
2001David StannusPeter CampbellNissan Pulsar
2002Brett ThompsonRob VandereeMitsubishi Galant VR4
2003Mike ReevesRobin SmalleyMitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
2004Peter MontgomeryChris MontgomerySubaru Impreza
2005Justin DowelMatt LeeMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
2006Justin DowelMatt LeeMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
2007Justin DowelMatt LeeMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
2008Mark FawcettSimon EllisSubaru Impreza WRX
2009Mark FawcettCarrie MorrisSubaru Impreza WRX
2010Nathan ReevesScott SpeddingSubaru Impreza WRX
2011Warren LeeDavid LethleanMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
2012Stephen RaymondGlen RaymondToyota Corolla
2013Tristan PenhallJolie MiddletonSubaru Impreza WRX
2014Justin DowelScott SpeddingMitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2015Darren Windus*David Lethlean*Subaru Impreza WRX
2016Darren WindusJoe BrkicMitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2017Glen RaymondKate CatfordSubaru Impreza WRX STi
2018Ben HayesCathy HayesSubaru Impreza WRX STi

* Driver and navigator were not from the same crew.
** Victorian Rally Championship introduced; previously, this was known as the Victorian Trials Championship.
Since 2003, there has been a separate Two Wheel Drive Championship contested as part of the Annual Championships.
Winners of the Victorian 2WD Rally Championship are as follows:
YearDriverNavigator/Co-Driver
2003Andrew VibertDavid Gallacher
2004Ben FawcettTony Boyd
2005Brian SemmensDavid Leoncini
2006Brian SemmensDavid Leoncini
2007Brian SemmensDavid Leoncini
2008Andrew TaylorRobin Smalley
2009Brian SemmensDavid Leoncini
2010Alan FriendRobin Smalley
2011Brian SemmensDan Parry
2012Brian SemmensDan Parry
2013Brian SemmensDan Parry
2014Justin WalkerBianca Lowe