“The Bat” and “Raymo” Team Up

After attending the AIS together on the CAMS Rally driver development program, Australian Rally Championship competitors and friends Paul Batten and Glen Raymond teamed up last weekend to compete in Round One of the Victorian Rally Championship and RallyDrive Excel Rally Series, the Cerberus Stages.

After a headline filled lead-up and a generous offer by Excel Series competitor John Ernst to lend Paul the car the pair returned the favor with a great run, resulting in 1st place 2WD, 1st Excel, and an incredible 8th outright in a field of 40 starters.

After competing in last years Excel series in the Hyundai / Kangan Batman TAFE Excel things didn’t look good for Batten after withdrawing in the days leading up to the event. However an amazing offer by competitor John Ernst after his navigator Bronni Metha was ruled out with illness saw Batten call Raymond at 8pm on the night before the rally.

Both young drivers, Batten and Raymond have a strong list of achievements to their names, with Raymond a regular in the ARC top 5 and preparing to drive the Toyota Corolla Group N(P) car in this years ARC. While Batten is the winner of last years www.rally.com.au ARC Privateers Challenge.

“I was really keen to compete in the rally and when I heard the offer from John I didn’t take long to decide,” said Batten. “It really is an amazing offer when you consider that John came 3rd in the series last year.”

“Glen and I had joked about a run in the Excel before and I was wrapped to have him along for the ride, we knew it would be good fun but underestimated it by a long shot!”

Sporting the unique side window labels of “The Bat / RAYMO” the team headed off to the first stage ready for action, it didn’t take long for the dynamic duo to turn heads, with the car running just outside the top ten after the first loop of stages and bettering stage times set by Turbo 4WD, and highly modified 2WD cars in the standard class 1.5 litre Excel.

“I think people have the impression that you have to thrash these cars to get the stage times,” said Raymond. I was surprised to see that Paul just drives the car smoothly and keeps the momentum flowing,”

“Raymo brought a unique style of navigating to the table for sure”, said Batten. “I don’t think I have ever been laughing while driving around a corner at 130km/h sideways before” he laughed!

“The funniest was the second run of the spectator point, Raymo was amping me up so I knew I had to do something spectacular to quieten him down, but it definitely didn’t work. He let out a big “yeeaah” as soon as I chucked the car in, and I was laughing by the time we came out the other side” Batten recalled with a grin.

The team had a warm reception from the spectators, and would surely have gained a few fans. The call of the day went to Raymond with “I don’t think I have giggled that much since I was a little girl”. Say no more.

After finishing strongly despite some well worn tyres the team were treated to a champagne podium presentation, much of the spoils of which finding its way to car owner John Ernst who had been ably assisted by brother Will and son Tim in the service park.

“I was really satisfied with how the day went,” said Batten. “I think we controlled our speed really well, and did a good job. We returned the car without a scratch on it and had a great time in the process. It was great to get out in the Excel series again, and good to see the new faces. I think this year will be a competitive one”.

After the success of Cerberus thoughts turn to round one of the ARC for Raymond.
“I have a lot of respect for Glen as a driver, and I am sure he will do a great job in the Toyota this year,” said Batten.

Future prospects are less certain for Batten, who despite great results last year and class topping fitness at the AIS is not committing to the full ARC.
“I made the decision to sell my Subaru after last years win for a few reasons, but probably the biggest one is that I don’t have the structure around me to take the next step forward. I have always run my own team and the stress really takes its toll on you as a driver, after talking to Vicky the Sports Psychologist at the AIS I realized that I can’t show my abilities behind the wheel without the right team structure in place around me.”

“Rallying is really a team sport. A huge amount of work goes on in the background, and when you don’t have this under control as a driver it affects your performance on the stages.”

“The way forward for me is in a prepared car and I’m looking at all of the options available to me. I’m working hard to have a motorsport program this year,” said Batten.

Photographs © www.hubblephotografix.com & John Doutch