FIVE against one hardly sounds fair, but that’s the state of play in the 2010 WA Rally Championship where the 2WD and Clubman sections are being fought between a 5.0litre Holden Commodore V8 and a less than one litre, three-cylinder Charade.
Kiel Douglas, last year’s rookie driver of the year, has all but wrapped up the 2WD, P4 and Clubman Cup sections with just two rounds remaining.
Competing in a V8 Commodore, Douglas has converted an impressive 2009 debut into a solid tilt at the non-AWD turbo sections of the WARC with the P4 class stiched up after victory at the Experts Cup last month.
But Padbury rally star Razvan Vlad has sewn up the P2 division and is a close second in the 2WD and Clubman classes in his diminutive Daihatsu.
“It is a bit like David and Goliath,” Vlad said.
“My little Charade has less than half the number of cylinders and a fifth of the Holden’s engine capacity, but it is light and handles really well. And just like the story, David should always win.”
So the Western Safari Rally in the Mundaring region on October 16 should be a cliffhanger for Douglas and Vlad.
“When I tell people I compete in the WA Rally they expect me to be in an all-wheel drive turbo car, but when I say it’s a V8 Commodore, their faces light up and they can’t stop smiling,” Douglas said.
“We need to finish well at Safari to take out the State 2WD championship and a good haul of Clubman points will extend our lead in that championship,” he said.
The 33-year-old Roleystone driver attributes much of his recent success to the skills and a great rapport with his new co-driver, Anthony Paynter.
“Pretty much everything has all come together at the right time,” he said.
Razvan Vlad also has a new co-driver in Daymon Nicoli. He is the son of former rally ace Bob Nicoli, and is already leading the Rookie Clubman Navigator championship.
“He is really keen and works very hard. He’s only 15 and does an excellent job. Not bad for someone who doesn’t even have a driver’s licence,” Razvan said.
Despite the rivalry, camaraderie is strong among the duelling rally teams.
“Unlike the David and Goliath story, we are good friends and always help each other when needed,” Razvan said.