Karri Rally to make a return to Manjimup next month

The roar of rally cars will return to Manjimup in August, with plenty of chances for people to get up close to the vehicles, the drivers and the action of the Karri Rally. The seven-stage rally takes place on Friday August 16 and Saturday August 17, with cars on display in the town centre on the Friday afternoon before the event begins. A total of 50 duos are expected to compete on closed dirt roads through the forests around Manjimup in the event, which is round four of the Dunlop Tyres WA Rally Championship. There will be a parade lap around the town centre on the Friday afternoon, during which children will be able to ride in the cars. A ceremonial start will then take place on Brockman Street at 5pm, before the first stage begins at the Manjimup Motocross track soon afterwards. Friday’s first stage will be a showcase event, with easier access for spectators than the stages set deeper in the forest. There are two rally stages on the Friday night, and five on the Saturday, with the first of those beginning at 9.30am. A service area for competitors’ cars will be set up in Rose Street and will also use the carparks behind the Tall Timbers Hotel, while the carpark adjacent The Reject Shop will be used as a refuelling station, closing the street for the weekend. Johnson Crescent will be restricted as well with part of the road closed to make room for the parc ferme, where cars can be examined by scrutineers. The Karri Rally organisers said they, and the Manjimup Motorcycle Club anticipate a large crowd for this year’s rally. Last year, 40 competing duos took part in the Manjimup rally, with stages running along Perup Road and the Muir Highway, with Craig Rando and Scott Beckwith winning the event. This year’s event will conclude with presentations at Tall Timbers Brewery after the action finishes.