Brad Markovic.
Camera IconBrad Markovic. Credit: Supplied/Phil Whitten

Kalamunda driver Markovic to make Rally Australia debut

Lucy JarvisHills Avon Valley Gazette

KALAMUNDA driver Brad Markovic will make his Kennards Hire Rally Australia debut in New South Wales next weekend.

Markovic is heading to NSW’s Coffs Coast for the final round of the KumhoTyre Australian Rally Championship (ARC), which is also the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

“It’s such a big event to be a part of, with drivers like WRC champ Sebastien Ogier competing on the same roads,” he said.

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Fellow West Aussie Glenn Macneall will join Markovic in the Auto One Subaru WRX STi.

Macneall also competes in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) with India’s Gaurav Gill and is leading the charge for the 2016 APRC co-driver’s title.

“Glenn is a world-class co-driver, so I don’t mind having to share him with Gaurav,” Markovic said.

“He’s got so much experience and he’s taught me a lot this year.”

Markovic said he had learned a lot about resilience during the 2016 ARC season and he believed he was in the right headspace to put in a good fight in NSW.

“I’ve spent time working on the mental side of the sport,” he said. “My biggest goal is to keep a positive focus while I’m in the car.”

Earlier this year, Markovic revealed his confidence had been rattled following a freak fire that destroyed his car in the opening round of the ARC, WA’s Quit Forest Rally.

“I’m in a good place now and I know I have the package with Glenn and myself, as well as the Maximum Motorsport team behind us, to fight for a win at this event,” he said.

Markovic is sixth on the ARC leaderboard, but with team mate Tom Wilde absent from the event, he will challenge NSW’s Chris Higgs for fourth in the championship.

“We’ve got a good shot at this,” he said.

“The aim is to make our speed consistent and finish the year on a high.”

In preparation for Kennards Hire Rally Australia, Markovic has been watching in-car footage from previous years.

“I wanted to familiarise myself with the style of roads before we commence recce,” he said.

“I’m lucky in the fact Glenn has done this event a couple of times, so his experience will be really valuable.”

Kennards Hire Rally Australia will run over shire and forestry roads around Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Bellingen and Clarence Valley.

It kicks off on Thursday with a ceremonial start and finishes on November 20.