Ed Ordynski

[oz_viking]

One of Australia's most accomplished drivers will return to competition in the Toyota Rally of South Australia on August 5-7, driving an ex-works Toyota Corolla.

Local hero Ed Ordynski will celebrate a historic milestone in the event, marking 30 years since he first competed in the Australian Rally Championship.

The Toyota drive will bookend the milestone because the 50 year-old's maiden ARC start in 1975 was in this same event driving a Toyota Corolla he had bought for $200 as a university student.

His Toyota Rally SA mount next week is the Group N Corolla that Neal Bates drove last season and is now owned by privateer Martin Lintott, who has been forced to miss this round due to business commitments.

Long-time rival Bates, the boss of Toyota Team Racing, worked with Toyota to put Ordynski and regular co-driver Iain Stewart into the Lincorp Corolla.

"I thought I was going to miss this milestone, which would have been a shame, but it turns out that Neal has been trying to make this happen for some time - without me even knowing it," said Ordynski.

"It's very special that people who have been rivals for years have gone to the trouble to make this happen and it really fires you up."

Ordynski, who won the national title in 1990, has been sitting on the sidelines since ending his long-standing association with Mitsubishi six months ago, but is eager to again tackle an event that he won just two years ago and in which he finished third last year.

Toyota Australia motor sport manager Phil Galway said that Ordynski's return to the cockpit would generate additional interest in Toyota Rally SA, which last year attracted a record crowd.

"Ed has a very high profile in South Australia in particular and having him competing again is great for the championship, especially as it is his 30th anniversary event," said Phil Galway.

"It will also be interesting to get his feedback on the Group N Corolla because one of his strengths over the years has been his technical ability."

Ordynski has the best international record of any Australian rally driver, having eight times beaten the best Group N drivers in the world to win the class in Rally Australia, a round of the World Rally Championship. He also won Group N in the New Zealand WRC event in 1994.

In Australia, Ordynski has been Australian Group N Rally Champion four times and rose to national prominence in 1995 when he won the Round Australia Trial driving a Holden Commodore.

Ordynski will test the Lincorp Corolla for the first time in official pre-event testing next Tuesday.

"There is no pressure on us for this event because there are no expectations, but I feel super enthusiastic and excited. It's a big challenge and that's part of the appeal," he said.

"The goal throughout my career has always been to win the rally, but this championship is just so tough that you can't just jump in and expect to win, so our real goal would just be to get into the top 10. I think that would be a great result."

[Buddha]

That's excellent, great to see Ed back on track, and in a Corolla no less! :D

[MR22ZZ]

AHHHHHHHHHHHH

that photo was taken at Marion shopping centre.... I'm getting home sick....

yeah and good for Ed he needs a good break after being dumped by Mitsubishi. At least he got Cody Crockers drive in the Asia Pacific China round because it clashed with Rally Canberra, be it in a Subaru, but he's driven them before too in the Liberty RS turbo days..

[xoom]

now now dylan wipe those tears ;) ;) ;) :P :P :P

[oz_viking]

Ed finished 10th. He's dead to me now.

Edited August 8, 2005 by oz_viking

[BigBum]

any specs on that rally corolla? can't find it anywhere

[oz_viking]

The Group N 'Sportivos' are Neal Bates prepared Corolla bodies fitted with 1994 Group One Celica four-wheel drive turbo running gear.

The cars are built to Australian rally regulations which permit other manufacturers to build cars similar to the N4 Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Evos that are dominating local rallying in most areas of the world.

The gearbox is fitted with a special straight-cut gear set, but the ratios must be either those of an Impreza or an Evo to ensure no advantage for these N4 prototypes. They are available for sale at a 'capped' price of A$150 000 to ensure they do not remain limited to 'works' teams.

[BigBum]

ayeee thanks :D anymore ? :)

[MR22ZZ]

I noticed on Speedweek that Rick Bates is also driving a Sportivo in the GTP championship or improved production or whatever they are calling it now. He was dicing quite strongly with the Celicas too :D

[oz_viking]

Yeah, but that would be a 2zz powered car with limited mods, not the rally spec super special.

[xoom]

They are available for sale at a 'capped' price of A$150 000

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Do i hear group buy ;) ;) ;)

I know eddy dont buy that house get 1 of these ;) ;) ;)

[MR22ZZ]

Yeah, but that would be a 2zz powered car with limited mods, not the rally spec super special.

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I know that, just pointing out that the sportivo is racing again...

[oz_viking]

Sweet...