Arentz wins Mount Baw Baw Sprint in TMR Evo X

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Performance client Clinton Arentz, along with new co-driver John McCarthy, has won the first round of the 2015 Australian Tarmac Rally Championship, the Mount Baw Baw Sprint.

The Baw Baw Sprint incorporates 220km of competitive tarmac rally stages spread over two days, using the roads from Icy Creek up to the summit of Mount Bar Baw itself.

Arentz, aboard his regular TMR Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X with which he won the 2014 ATRC Showroom 4WD category, took the top slot outright from the outright Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX of Tristan and Kate Catford with the 2014 ATRC-winning outright Evo IX of Danny Traverso and Steve Glenney in third place.

“It’s a fabulous result and well above expectations,” said Arentz of the victory. “My new co-driver John McCarthy did a fantastic job. He was recommended by my usual co-driver, Dale Moscatt, and considering this was effectively a ‘blind date’ because we only met two days ago, the result is even more satisfying.

“I always enjoy this event at Mt Baw Baw and it has been very good to me. The road is amazing to drive. It’s very tricky and challenging but when you get it right, it is the best feeling. I’m really looking forward to Lake Mountain now – bring it on!”

TMR principal Alan Heaphy added: “It’s a fantastic result for Clint, especially given the car’s showroom specification. It runs on 98 octane and has a small exhaust, but was still very quick and reliable… we didn’t put a new [unused] tyre on it over the weekend, just topped it up with fuel and off it went. Clint drove superbly and the new cockpit partnership worked well.”

Arentz and the TMR Evolution X take their championship lead to the second of the four-round ATRC rounds, the Lake Mountain Sprint in Victoria, which will be held over March 21-22. Head to http://www.australiantarmacrally.com/ for more details.

Photo credit: Ray Martin