Perth’s premier tarmac rally, Lance East Exotics Tarmac West is off to a flying start with the twilight stages of Day 1 of the four-day rally drawing about 8,000 spectators who lined the streets of Ellenbrook as competitors race the clock.

Forrest Place in the heart of Perth’s CBD shopping district hosted the Ceremonial Start at lunch time with 70 rally cars on show and hundreds of curious spectators getting a closer look at the machines ranging from a classic 1964 Ford Anglia to powerful modern Porsches.

The rally opened with four tight, demanding stages through Whiteman Park followed by three evening sprints at Ellenbrook, a street course lined with high kerbs requiring precision to avoid damage.

Ellenbrook is the rally’s shortest stage at 0.71 kilometres that is run three times, and the crowd absolutely loved it.

Drivers, co-drivers and cars have a long challenge ahead, racing the clock along 34 stages, a total of 218 competitive kilometres, and traversing 932 kilometres.

A beautiful 26-degree spring weather welcomed competitors, crews, official and spectators for Day 1 of Lance East Exotics Tarmac West.

In the open class, Competition T200, Heuson Bak and Roger Tan in their 2017 Lotus Exige S 350 finished on top of the leaderboard after Day 1 of Lance East Exotics Tarmac West.

This is Bak’s ninth Tarmac West start, eight of those with his best mate, Tan, calling the notes.

“We’re still trying to dial in a few things with the suspension but tomorrow will be the real test, it’s our favourite stages of the rally through Kalamunda and windy zig zag stages,” Bak said.

“As far as our goal goes, we’re going to go for it, finishing first would be fantastic, but there’s some good competition out there, so we’ll see.

“For us, it’s about driving well, having fun, and getting home in one piece. Roger and I have heaps of fun together, I wouldn’t do the event without him.”

Just 2.9 seconds behind is Mark Cirillo is his 2024 BMW M4 with co-driver Daymon Nicoli. The duo took a clean sweep of the Ellenbrook sunset stages winning all three.

“We’re feeling good, our car comes alive on stages like Ellenbrook,” Cirillo said.

“The car was understeering at Whiteman Park this morning, but GMW serviced it and it’s good now.

“To come out with no damage, despite hitting a speed hump really hard, is great.

“Saturday should be a good stage for us, and if we can get to Sunday and be in the mix, then we might be in with a chance.”

In March, Cirillo and Nicoli were equal winners in the short one-day Tarmac South West in Pemberton.

In third place in T200 is Matthew O’Neill in his 2006 Subaru WRX STI Spec C with co-driver Michael Lloyd.

Just 7.9 seconds behind the leader is 2023 Tarmac West winner Peter Rullo in his Porsche 992 RGT with co-driver Steve Glenney in fourth place in T200, and fourth overall.

Rullo’s car had a faulty paddle on the steering wheel causing chaos before the competition even begun, but it was fixed before they reached the start line.

And finishing Day 1 in outright fifth place was rookie Anthony Jewell with experienced co-driver Rachael Ferrante driving a 2022 Toyota Supra A90, the car that won last year’s Tarmac West (driven by Bryce Moore).

Experienced in circuit racing, Jewell is in the T165 category, and despite this being his first foray in tarmac rallying, the 22-year-old has made everyone sit up and take notice.

The only retirement of the day was Nathan Ellement with his cousin and co-driver Kevin Ellement when they hit a speed bump too hard in their 1985 Chevrolet Corvette C4. The duo will rejoin the rally tomorrow, albeit out of contention but will continue to race for stage times. Nathan Ellement was hoping to finish faster than his brother, Byron who is in the T185.

In the T185 category, a new class for modified classics, Byron Ellement and Dean McIardy in the rally’s oldest car (the shell at least), a 1964 Ford Anglia finished Day 1 triumphant, almost 28 seconds ahead of Russell Burney and Tristan Hall in their 1987 Honda CRX.

In the T165, rookie Anthony Jewell takes top honours in the class as well as sitting in fifth outright on the leaderboard, almost 12 seconds ahead of Simon Brenan and Sylvia Hamerlik in their 2021 BMW M4 Competition.

Competitors in T165 are limited to speeds of 165km/h.

In the T130 category, rookie father and son duo, Joshua Brown, 36 years of age, and Rodney who is 69, finished the first day in their 2006 Mitsubishi Evo 9 11.7 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals Daniel Guickin and Colin McGuckin driving a 1996 Nissan 180sx, also rookies and also a father and son duo, with Daniel, the son, the driver.

Joshua Brown said he grew up racing motocross, and this was first time in a tarmac rally and only the second time in the car. He bought the car from long-time Tarmac West competitor Will White who has mentored the duo.

“We did the mid-year sprint about four weeks ago, which was our first run in the car. We’re still finding our feet, it’s a bit of a shock to be where we are to be honest,” Joshua Brown said.

“It was an overwhelming day, we were anxious learning and understanding the timing, the liaisons, and everything about the sport, but we’re taking it day by day, stage by stage, crossing things off, navigating confidently and just trying to stay within our limits and get through the rally in one piece.”

T130 is the largest category with 21 competitors, 15 of which are rookies. Competitors in T130 are limited to speeds of 130km/h.

Tomorrow, Day 2 of competition consists of nine stages, 58.44 competitive kilometres and a total distance of 218 kilometres.

Rally action starts in the Perth Hills with morning stages in Parkerville and Kalamunda, before Kalamunda’s Haynes Street transforms into a service park for a 35-minute service and lunch stop and a 20-minute service before the famous Kalamunda Zig Zag stages. The day ends with a Show and Shine in Forrest Place in Perth’s CBD on late-night-shopping night, Friday night.

Lance East Exotics Tarmac West, held from 17 to 20 September, is the only event of its kind in Western Australia that tests the endurance of both man and machine.

Competitors in modern and classic cars will race the clock along 34 stages and a total of 218 competitive kilometres along closed roads around Whiteman Park, Ellenbrook, Parkerville, Kalamunda, Toodyay, Maryville, Bullsbrook, Malaga and the City of Perth.

Run by Tarmac Events WA, the rally is made possible thanks to sponsors with a special acknowledgement of title sponsor Lance East Exotics, and the 300 volunteer officials who ensure the event is run safely.

Keep up to date with Tarmac West events, please visit www.tarmacevents.com.au

Credits: R-Dev Media, Tim Allot, Dianne Bortoletto.