All set for SA showdown

Defending Australian Rally Champions, Neal Bates and Coral Taylor, will go all out this weekend to secure back-to-back titles in the final rally of what has been one of the closest contested seasons in recent memory.

The four-time National Champions are a mere eight points behind series leaders and former team-mates, Simon and Sue Evans.

Bates had a constructive test on Friday near the team's base in Canberra and believes he and Taylor can do enough to claim a fifth Australian Rally Championship crown.

"We have had a good lead up to this rally and the car was great in testing," Bates said.

"I think it will be a very interesting weekend and also a very tough one. The title is on the line and whoever wins the rally will take it - it's as simple as that.

"We have a very strong package, the car is as good as it can be for the rally, so it is now up to Coral and I to go there and do the job."

This weekend's Rally SA also ends an extended break for the championship after the Coffs Coast Rally that was originally scheduled for late-June was postponed, and then cancelled, due to road damage from heavy rains.

Bates has enjoyed the break and kept fit mountain biking, while he honed his reflexes behind the wheel by taking part in the last round of the Aussie Racing Car Series.

This year's edition of Rally SA features the debut of the Pedders 'No Bull' Shootout on Friday morning that will see the top 10 crews battle it out for vital extra championship points on a three-kilometre stage in the Mount Crawford forest.

Bates is a fan of the Shootout format that will see the fastest driver claim 10 points, the second nine and so on.

Rain is forecast for the weekend and although last year's rally saw competitors sliding off the road in the sub-zero conditions, Bates believes the roads will need far more water in the coming days to become as severe.

"My preference would be that it remains dry, but will just have to deal with whatever presents itself," Bates said. "These roads can handle a reasonable amount of water before they become very slippery, so I think we should be ok this year."

Heat 1 of Rally SA commences on Friday night with two runs over the popular Angaston Super Special Stage before moving into the forests on Saturday. Heat 2 sees crews return to Angaston on Saturday night, before the 2009 season concludes on Sunday afternoon.