MACKENZIE EXCEEDS EXPECTATION WITH KUMHO FUTURE CHAMPIONS VICTORY
A 19-year -old Victorian driver has surprised himself in becoming the latest recipient of the Kumho Tyres Future Champions Award in round three of the Bosch Australian Rally Championship, the Brakes Direct International Rally of Queensland.
Steve Mackenzie had never competed outside Victoria but the gamble paid off for the Ford Fiesta driver who secured the Rallyschool.com.au Australian Junior Rally Challenge victory in an all two-wheel drive field.
"I was hoping to do well but I didn't expect to do that well," said Steve Mackenzie.
"I want to make the step up to the Bosch ARC and the Rallyschool.com.au Australian Junior Rally Challenge is a great way to do it financially, plus you get a lot of support from the guys around you."
Mackenzie was consistent across the two days of competition and made note of the difference in preparation to compete in unfamiliar territory.
"We had a few moments where I went in a bit quicker than I should have been but it was a fairly smooth and trouble free weekend," he admitted.
"Making sure my pace notes were accurate was a big challenge for me."
Mackenzie won a set of Kumho rally tyres valued at approximately $1000 and secured a spot in the RAJC final to be held at the Snake Racing Rally Coffs in October - where he will compete with two wheel drive winners from round one and two, Michael Busby and Dylan King, for a Rallyschool.com.au prepared two wheel drive entry at the Bosch ARC final and Mackenzie's home event, Rally Victoria.
"I'm not sure what the competition will be like in the final at Coffs Harbour. It would be nice to have a win though," Mackenzie said.
The Kumho Future Champions Award will return for the final heat of the RAJC, the Scouts Rally of South Australia, held July 28-29.
The Kumho Future Champions Award has been designed to assist and encourage the young drivers taking part in the Rallyschool.com.au AJRC to step up to top levels of the sport and give them an incentive to continue in what is a demanding and expensive sport.
As control tyre supplier, Kumho is putting its backing into the Australian Rally Championship with a reduction in the cost of tyres, encouragement awards and significant rights fees going to the sport.