Four-times Australian Rally Champion Simon Evans has announced he will be making a full time return to the Bosch Australian Rally Championship driving a Mazda 2 in this year's series starting at the opening round, Rally Calder presented by East Coast Bullbars on March 1-4.
The new Simon Evans Mazda entry in the Bosch ARC will be run by Rallyschool.com.au team principal Mick Ryan.
The move to Mazda for the Bosch ARC comes after Evans won his class at the wheel of a Mazda 3 MPS at last year's Targa High Country.
Evans will campaign a Mazda 2 under the Championship's new Group G2 regulations with the car currently under construction at Rallyschool's Sydney workshops.
The new Mazda 2 rally car will run a Mazda MZR two-litre engine with a six-speed Hollinger gearbox and will feature input from motor sport suspension guru Murray Coote of MCA Suspension, the last man to win the ARC title in a Mazda.
CEO of the Bosch ARC Scott Pedder said the return of Simon Evans to the series in a new generation G2 spec Mazda is another huge vote of confidence in the Championship and the new two-wheel drive formula being adopted.
"It is exciting news and another great boost to the Bosch ARC for 2012 particularly given it is another new make in the series," said Scott Pedder.
"It is fantastic to have Simon Evans back in the Championship in an exciting new car that will certainly take the fight up to the factory Hondas," he added.
Rallyschool.com.au Principal Mick Ryan said the opportunity to run an outright car with Simon Evans at the wheel is one that could not be passed up and will be a major boost for the Bosch ARC and for Rallyschool.
"Simon is the most exciting and fastest driver of recent times in the ARC and to have his ability, knowledge and input in this project will be invaluable as we develop the new Mazda and create a package that is capable of winning the Bosch ARC," said Mick Ryan.
"It will have the right gear with a really strong engine, competition gearbox and the best rally suspension available, Rallyschool runs 19 cars around the country using MCA Suspension and we know just how good it is and we know what we are doing when it comes to preparing and running rally cars," Ryan added.
The Rallyschool.com.au Mazda 2 is being prepared by Darren Williams at Dashsport in Sydney and will have backing from Kumho, MCA Suspensions, Bosch and some assistance from Mazda.
Simon Evans is enthusiastic about the project and his role in developing the new Mazda 2 Group G2 car as a winner in the Bosch ARC.
"It is a really exciting opportunity and is going to be a real challenge developing the car into a rally winner," said the four times Aussie champion.
"This has huge potential and I believe opportunity is what you make of it so this is going to be a lot of hard work and a lot of fun as well and Sue and I are looking forward to it," he said.
"We are looking at the bigger picture and for 2013 and beyond with hopefully some increased manufacturer involvement from Mazda, it is all very exciting," he added.
Evans says he is particularly looking forward to competing against his brother Eli who will spearhead Honda's attack on the Bosch ARC again this year.
"I love the challenge of taking on Eli as a direct opponent, he is a really tough competitor and there is nothing like sibling rivalry to bring out the best in a competitor," Evans added.
 [copyright-free photo by Phil Willams - www.freewebs.comphilwillmedia]nsp_119.JPG)
nsp_119.jpg)
