AFL great Brent ‘Boomer’ Harvey will contest this year’s Alpine Rally at the wheel of a classic 1970s Toyota TA22 Celica, courtesy of a wildcard entry from sponsor Lovells Group.
Lovells’ entry pairs the sporting icon with the rally classic in one of the world’s oldest motorsport events, which this year will be staged over four-days from November 28-30 in its traditional East Gippsland home.
The bi-annual Alpine Rally, first held in 1921, is one of the world’s longest-running motorsport events and a cornerstone of Australian rallying. The event attracts elite competitors from Australia and abroad, all driving classic two-wheel-drive rally cars across East Gippsland’s iconic gravel stages.
As the newly appointed naming rights sponsor Lovells Group will enter a pair of TA22 Celicas – one of which will be piloted by the Australian Football League (AFL) Hall of Fame inductee and official Lovells Brand Ambassador in his motorsport debut.
Harvey was appointed as Lovells’ Brand Ambassador earlier this year as part of the company’s 95th anniversary celebrations, and has been fronting a Full Travel video series which showcases Lovells suspension and towing upgrades on iconic Australian drives.
Despite having no competitive motorsport experience, Harvey is a proven performer on the big stage – having played 432 games for North Melbourne, boasting 518 goals and the 1999 premiership on his resume – and said he was thrilled to be taking on the challenge of piloting the historic TA22 Celica.
Based in Lakes Entrance, the Alpine Rally is billed as the oldest surviving motorsport event in Australia and the second oldest rally in the world.
The event follows a three-day format, with the first day being the “traditional” stages close to Lakes Entrance, day two being based out of Orbost, and the final day set around Nowa Nowa.
With a total of 14 stages across the three days and over 380km of competitive driving, including the longest stage being over 73km, competitors will require plenty of patience, concentration, and endurance.
Organisers are expecting a field of around 100 classic rally cars, including the Lovells-backed Toyota TA22 Celica coupes, which were regarded as a bit of a weapon back in their day.
The TA22 was the first of seven generations of Celica and achieved success in both circuit racing and rallying in its day. Among the car’s early notable victories were podium finishes (second and third) in the 1972 New Caledonian Safari and victory in the Ethiopian Highland Rallies that same year.
The TA22 also found success in touring car championships, with drivers including Win Percy taking nine victories to finish second overall in both the 1975 and 1976 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in a 1600 GT.
Percy would later find fame Down Under, winning at Bathurst in 1990 alongside Allan Grice in a VL Commodore SS Group A SV.
The Alpine Rally is free to spectators and brings thousands of fans to Victoria’s scenic Gippsland region, creating a festival atmosphere of motorsport, community, and celebration.
