After a three-year hiatus, long-form tarmac rallying made a triumphant return with the Lance East Exotics Tarmac West event, thrilling motorsport enthusiasts across Perth. Over four action-packed days, 50 or more cars raced against the clock on closed roads, winding through scenic locations such as Whiteman Park, Ellenbrook, Parkerville, Kalamunda, Toodyay, Bullsbrook, and the heart of Perth.
The event kicked off with a Ceremonial Start at Forrest Place in Perth's CBD, where 50 competitors were flagged off, embarking on a journey to tackle 240 competitive kilometers over four days. Spectators lined the streets to witness the return of this motorsport spectacle, as drivers pushed their limits in a series of high-speed stages.
Day 1: Early Leaders Emerge
The competition began with four challenging stages at Whiteman Park. By the end of the day, Matthew O’Neill, driving a 2006 Subaru WRX STI, alongside co-driver Noah Humble, took the lead, edging out Heuson Bak in his 2017 Lotus Exige S 350 by a mere two seconds. The intense rivalry set the tone for what would be a highly competitive event.
That evening, the action moved to Ellenbrook, where rally drivers and Rallysprint competitors combined forces to bring the total number of cars racing to 90. Thousands of fans lined the streets, enjoying the evening's warm weather and dramatic sunset backdrop as cars roared past in high-octane fashion.
Day 2: Tight Racing in the Perth Hills
Day 2 saw competitors head to the Perth Hills for more demanding stages in Parkerville and Kalamunda. Despite delays that resulted in the cancellation of two stages, spirits remained high as hundreds of spectators gathered to watch crews carry out essential repairs and maintenance on the cars.
The highlight of the day came during the notoriously tight Zig Zag stages, which were run twice. By the day's end, Brett Morse and Rodney Ng in their 2019 BMW M2 had taken the lead in the T200 class, with a 12-second advantage over Bak and Tan’s Lotus Exige.
Day 3: Marathon Day in the Countryside
Day 3 presented the toughest challenge yet, with competitors enduring the longest day of racing. Drivers tackled long-flowing and technical sections around Toodyay, Chittering, and Bullsbrook, covering a total distance of 450 kilometers, including 120 competitive kilometers spread over 12 stages.
It was a grueling test of endurance for both cars and drivers, but the competition remained fierce, with Brett Morse and Rodney Ng continuing to hold their lead as the field pushed through some of the event’s most challenging sections.
Day 4: A Grand Finale in Perth
The final day of the Lance East Exotics Tarmac West brought the excitement back to the city with six sprint-style stages in Perth. Thousands of spectators flocked to Malaga in the morning and later gathered along Riverside Drive and Terrace Road Car Park for the afternoon’s city stages, soaking up the warm 25-degree weather.
Langley Park became a paradise for car enthusiasts, with over 400 vehicles on display as part of the Celebration of Motorsport festival. Fans admired stunning classic cars at the Shannons Classics on the Swan, while the roar of rally cars racing through the city streets added to the electric atmosphere.
At the conclusion of the final day, Brett Morse and Rodney Ng emerged victorious in the main T200 class, securing their first Lance East Exotics Tarmac West title. Their 2019 BMW M2 completed the event with a lead of 3:04 minutes over the second-placed 2017 Lotus Exige of Heuson Bak and Roger Tan. In an impressive performance, the rally’s only electric vehicle entry, a 2019 Tesla Model 3P+ driven by Jurgen Lunsmann and co-driver Helen Lunsmann, finished third overall.
Rounding out the top five outright was a 39-year-old car, also the winner of the T200 Classic Class, Nathan Ellement in his 1985 Chevrolet Corvette C4, with rookie co-driver Stephen Mackinlay. They finished 49 seconds behind Lunsmann and 4:56 minutes behind the winner, Morse.
Event Director Ross Tapper expressed his delight with the return of long-form tarmac rallying and the success of this year’s event.
“While we love the short and fast-paced rallysprint format, the endurance required in our four-day long-form rally is different, and it plays to the strengths of some competitors and not to others. We are thrilled to be back doing what we love,” said Tapper.
In addition to the motorsport action, the Tarmac West weekend also celebrated car culture in WA, with hot rods, street machines, and supercars featured in the Sunday Perth City Cruise. The event offered something for everyone, whether they came for the high-speed competition or to marvel at some of the best classic and exotic cars in the state.
As the dust settled on this year’s Tarmac West, fans, competitors, and organisers alike looked back on a successful event that brought the heart-pounding thrill of tarmac rallying back to Western Australia. With safety at the forefront and a passion for motorsport driving every stage, the future looks bright for the return of long-form rallying in WA.
