Rally Australia: Most dramatic highlights

This weekend proved a challenge for rally drivers as the last event on the WRC calendar, Rally Australia, hit Coffs Harbour.

The ease with which punters can get right up in the action, and the unpredictable nature of… well, nature, means rallying tends to bring out some of the most intense moments in motorsport.

From crashes, mechanical struggles, to plain insanity, here are a handful of the most memorable happenings from the NSW coast.

Jari-Matti Latvala’s final stage crash

At a point where the only thing standing between him and his third consecutive Rally Australia win was a few seconds and one Thierry Neuville, Toyota Gazoo WRC driver Jari-Matti Latvala was looking a strong contender.

But one turn on the final stage – after a heavy downpour of rain meant the penultimate stage was cancelled – caused Latvala’s undoing.

Cutting slightly too close meant Latvala launched his car into the air and badly damaged his suspension, sending him veering off the track into a ditch.

Andreas Mikkelsen cops double puncture

It’s Saturday morning, day two of Rally Australia, and Andreas Mikelsen is in the lead overall. Driving for Hyundai Motorsport, he’s got team mate Thierry Neuville following on the board by about 15 seconds. During SS10, however, that changes.

Drivers are allowed two replacement tyres in the car with them. Most drivers bring one spare tyre with them to save weight. Mikkelsen is one of those drivers, and thus a double puncture rendered his chances of staying on top null.

Craig Breen’s multiple roll crash

During the second day of Rally Australia, Irish driver for Citroen Abu Dhabi managed to roll his car several times coming out of a reportedly tricky corner.

Australian Rally Championship (ARC) driver Harry Bates mentioned the incident while speaking with MOTOR and said the corner is one that has almost caught him out before, but added that if it can cross up a driver like Breen, it goes to show how unforgiving rallying can be.

Some spectators caught it on camera:

Spectators almost run-over by drivers

The majority of rallying relies on a thorough knowledge of the course well in advance of the actual stage running. However, pace notes can’t keep up with the ever-changing locations of rally spectators.

For this reason, two spectators who decided to lay on the side of the track were putting themselves at great risk. Onboard footage from Kris Meeke and Latvala's cars show the two phone-wielding photographers laying less than a metre from the path of the cars, prompting plenty of criticism from just about everyone.

Kris Meeke hits a bridge

During SS12, or Welsh’s Creek, Kris Meeke had a hard run. While he was gunning for a podium spot at the time, he clipped a small bridge a few minutes into the stage and badly damaged his suspension, causing his team to call him in to retire for the day.

In the video below, Meeke clips the bridge just after the 3.50 mark. As a side note, more overzealous spectators can be spotted at 3.15.

Molly Taylor’s engine trouble

Champion of last year’s ARC Molly Taylor was in a strong position to defend her title, until a damaged engine spelled the end of her participation in the weekend’s competition.

It wasn’t all bad news for locals, however, as this gave Coffs Harbour resident Nathan Quinn his first ARC title.

Mitsubishi Galant VR4 crashes into river

Ross Cox and co-driver Janet Binns found themselves in a terrifying situation when their Galant VR4 ended up in the drink during the long and challenging Nambucca stage on Saturday. Nearby spectators were able to roll the car upright and help Cox and Binns escape, but by that point their Rally Australia hopes were dashed.

Ott Tanak falls victim to M-Sport pranks

While not as dramatic as crashes and near-misses, Ott Tanak found himself in a couple of awkward situations thanks to his team. Estonian driver and soon-to-be Toyota Gazoo racer Tanak was sent-off by his M-Sport teammates with a couple of light-hearted jokes, one being his hotel room having been covered with Gazoo Racing flags and merchandise.

The other, which Tanak still seemed to find the humour in, revolves around his car. He told the media after the event that the team had diverted the windscreen washers to spray water on his lap every time he selected third gear while travelling between stages. He reported that his “balls were nicely wet.”