Bates Inducted Into Rally Hall of Fame
Posted: October 15th, 2015, 5:13 pm
Bates Inducted Into Rally Hall of Fame
Mar 4, 2013 By Toyota Australia.
Australian motorsport icon and Toyota ambassador Neal Bates has been inducted into the inaugural Australian Rally Hall of Fame.
Bates was one of 13 individuals recognised for his contribution to rallying at a gala dinner in Canberra this week.
The Australian Rally Commission established the Hall of Fame to coincide with the 45th running of the Australian Rally Championship and 60-year celebrations of motorsport governing body CAMS.
Bates was discovered by Toyota in a unique Star Search program in 1989, run as part of the Australian Touring Car Championship.
Within two years, Bates was competing in the Australian Rally Championship in a Toyota Celica with Toyota support.
He and co-driver Coral Taylor won the national title in 1993, '94 and '95 in a Celica, and then again in 2008 in a S2000 Corolla that was designed and built by Bates with Toyota backing.
Bates said he was humbled by the Hall of Fame honour, which also cited his mentoring of young drivers and his influence in lifting the profile of rallying in Australia.
"I absolutely love rallying - it's my life - so to be recognised like this is a really big thrill for me," Bates said.
"I was among very special company, which makes it even more special."
Other individuals inducted were the late Peter (Possum) Bourne with whom Bates shared many great battles Garry Connelly, Ross Dunkerton, Harry Firth, John Large, Jack Murray, George Shepherd, Tom Snooks, Doug Stewart, Donald K Thomson, Ken Tubman and Bob Watson.
The announcement coincides with the start of the 2013 Australian Rally Championship in which Bates is competing with long-time co-driver Coral Taylor in the classic section of the ARC, which they won overall last year.
The duo is again fielding their fully worked 1980 Toyota Celica RA40, which Bates said ran extremely well in pre-season testing.
"The classic series will be really good this year with 15 competitors. It's good to see so much interest in classic rallying and its great to be part of it again," Bates said.
Mar 4, 2013 By Toyota Australia.
Australian motorsport icon and Toyota ambassador Neal Bates has been inducted into the inaugural Australian Rally Hall of Fame.
Bates was one of 13 individuals recognised for his contribution to rallying at a gala dinner in Canberra this week.
The Australian Rally Commission established the Hall of Fame to coincide with the 45th running of the Australian Rally Championship and 60-year celebrations of motorsport governing body CAMS.
Bates was discovered by Toyota in a unique Star Search program in 1989, run as part of the Australian Touring Car Championship.
Within two years, Bates was competing in the Australian Rally Championship in a Toyota Celica with Toyota support.
He and co-driver Coral Taylor won the national title in 1993, '94 and '95 in a Celica, and then again in 2008 in a S2000 Corolla that was designed and built by Bates with Toyota backing.
Bates said he was humbled by the Hall of Fame honour, which also cited his mentoring of young drivers and his influence in lifting the profile of rallying in Australia.
"I absolutely love rallying - it's my life - so to be recognised like this is a really big thrill for me," Bates said.
"I was among very special company, which makes it even more special."
Other individuals inducted were the late Peter (Possum) Bourne with whom Bates shared many great battles Garry Connelly, Ross Dunkerton, Harry Firth, John Large, Jack Murray, George Shepherd, Tom Snooks, Doug Stewart, Donald K Thomson, Ken Tubman and Bob Watson.
The announcement coincides with the start of the 2013 Australian Rally Championship in which Bates is competing with long-time co-driver Coral Taylor in the classic section of the ARC, which they won overall last year.
The duo is again fielding their fully worked 1980 Toyota Celica RA40, which Bates said ran extremely well in pre-season testing.
"The classic series will be really good this year with 15 competitors. It's good to see so much interest in classic rallying and its great to be part of it again," Bates said.