WRC - A step into the unknown
It could be argued that the arrival of the World Rally Championship in Australia was a deal born more out of commercial sense rather than a sporting necessity. Australia might not have had the kind of lengthy rallying tradition which Europe can boast, but it certainly new how to put on a show.
Within a few years of its arrival in 1989 - courtesy of the departure of America’s Olympus Rally - Australia’s inclusion on the annual roster of world rallies was assured. The event soon grew to become a benchmark rallies against which others would be judged. While events in the northern hemisphere talked about superspecial stages and taking the sport to the public, Australia got on with it, running through the streets of Northbridge and then to a purpose-built side-by-side spectacular in Langley Park on the banks of the Swan River.
It all started in 1989, when 59 cars left the Freemantle start bound for Richmond Raceway on a dreary September evening. Toyota’s Juha Kankkunen won the first ever WRC stage in Australia. Thirty-two stages later and the Finn won the inaugural Rally Australia. While the organisers of the event celebrated a highly successful debut at the highest level, Kankkunen’s employers at Toyota partied alongside them as they marked the first ever WRC win for the Celica GT-4. Kenneth Eriksson had made it a double celebration, completing a one-two down under. Given Australia’s ‘close’ proximity to Japan, Toyota’s win couldn’t have been better - or more dominant, with the Celica’s posting 29 fastest times to leave Lancia choking in the rich red dust.
World Rally Championship - News - A step into the unknown
Within a few years of its arrival in 1989 - courtesy of the departure of America’s Olympus Rally - Australia’s inclusion on the annual roster of world rallies was assured. The event soon grew to become a benchmark rallies against which others would be judged. While events in the northern hemisphere talked about superspecial stages and taking the sport to the public, Australia got on with it, running through the streets of Northbridge and then to a purpose-built side-by-side spectacular in Langley Park on the banks of the Swan River.
It all started in 1989, when 59 cars left the Freemantle start bound for Richmond Raceway on a dreary September evening. Toyota’s Juha Kankkunen won the first ever WRC stage in Australia. Thirty-two stages later and the Finn won the inaugural Rally Australia. While the organisers of the event celebrated a highly successful debut at the highest level, Kankkunen’s employers at Toyota partied alongside them as they marked the first ever WRC win for the Celica GT-4. Kenneth Eriksson had made it a double celebration, completing a one-two down under. Given Australia’s ‘close’ proximity to Japan, Toyota’s win couldn’t have been better - or more dominant, with the Celica’s posting 29 fastest times to leave Lancia choking in the rich red dust.
World Rally Championship - News - A step into the unknown
