Toyota Racing Development driver Neal Bates has won the Australian Rally Championship season opening event in WA.

The win came when the sister car driven by reigning champion Simon Evans who was forced to retire in SS17 with an engine failure.

Bates was delighted with the win "I'm absolutely delighted, I am obviusly very disappointed for Simon and Sue, they drove an exceptionally well and deserved to win but when they stopped we were happy to pick up the pieces" said Bates.

Second place went to Eli Evans and third was Alex Stone. As Stone is not registered for Rally points third place in the points went to Justin Dowel.

The retirment by Evans marked the first time in 14 heats that Evans was not a ARC wiiner.

Evans was quoted as saying "It's disappointing, but I'm happy" "Our dream run ended when I was in the leas and we were doing everything right so if you're ever going to DNF this is the way to do it".

Rallycorp has confirmed that the previously announced calendar for 2008, has now been changed.

Where the original calendar had a 2 month gap, the new calendar has moved the previously season opening Rally Queensland to Round 3 on 21-22 June 2008.

The full amended calendar is below

Rd 1 QUIT Forest Rally 5-6 April

Rd 2 Rally of Canberra 10-11 May

Rd 3 Coates Rally Queensland 21-22 June

Rd 4 Toyota Rally SA 26-27 July

Rd 5 Great Lakes Rally 20-21 September

Rd 6 NGK Rally of Melbourne 18-19 October

image courtesy Joel Strickland