Paul Batten Racing Continues an EXCEL-lent year

Paul Batten Racing has continued in the 2007 Victorian Rally Championship Excel Series. Driving a four door single cam Hyundai Excel. Not only was Paul, Craig and the team able to win the Excel series round and P2 under 1600cc class, but they also managed to walk away with the outright 2wd round win outlasting and outperforming much faster cars.

Held in the forests around Bairnsdale it was the first time the Roads had been used for a VRC round in over ten years. Fast Flowing Roads, Long straights and Hairpin corners made the competition fast and furious, but Paul and the team played their own game not worrying about the opposition, a plan that payed as the team continually moved up timesheets. “It really was a perfect day” stated Paul Batten at the conclusion of the event. “The Dunlop Tyres from Stuckey’s Tyre Service really copped a work-out and were up to everything we could throw at them, and our new Otomoto – HSD Suspension proved to be the best set-up around”.

Currently Paul Batten racing is leading in the Hyundai Excel Series after two rounds along with a narrow lead in the 2wd Victorian Rally Championship, a position that the team didn’t expect to find themselves in. “We definitely didn’t expect to be leading the 2wd competition outright, but I guess it shows that with consistency, the excel series cars can really surprise”. Said team co-driver Craig Jones.

Paul Batten Racing would like to thank Greg Moulden, Mike Carey and the students from Kangan Batman TAFE for their event preparation and service. Along with Stuckey Tyre Service, Rallydrive.com.au, Hubble Photografix, WURTH, Coxy's Motorsport Parts, and Pitman Trucks.

The next event for Paul Batten Racing is the Rally of Canberra, round three of the 2007 NEC Australian Rally Championship. Not only will this begin the teams attack at the 2007 Rally Challenge but the Rally of Canberra is also a round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship and allows the team to test there ability against international Rally Stars.

All photographs © www.hubblephotografix.com