MICHAEL GUEST - Profile
Michael Guest started rallying in 1989 in a Toyota Corolla, over the next 18 years he would rise from club level through to the World rally Championship. A natural flair and a dogged persistence that would become a consistent theme throughout his career were all that Guest needed to take him quickly through the ranks.
By the mid 1990s Guest was one of the leading drivers in the Australian Rally Championship. Going from two-wheel-drive Corollas to all-wheel-drive turbo-charged Mitsubishi Lancers and along the way scoring victory in many of Australia's leading events. He also found time to compete in challenging events such as Targa Tasmania and the Round Australia Trial.
Guest won his first major title in 1996 with the Australian Production Car Championship. He repeated that effort in 1997 before splitting his time on the national and international scene.
His successful run continued with Production Car victories at the 1998 Rally of New Zealand and Rally Australia. On both events he outclassed the international stars, including the reigning Group N world champion Gustavo Trelles.
The next step was an attack on the World Rally Championship. With backing from tobacco giant Rothmans of Pall-Mall Guest he was competing in events across the world in a range of cars from Subaru Impreza WRX's, to Hyundai Coupe F2 cars and Hyundai Accent World Rally Cars. This came to a premature end in 2001 when Rothmans ended all motor sports activities around the world. Over this period he took class wins and strong outright results on some of the toughest rallies across the globe.
Guest returned to Australia and from 2002 competing in selected events in the Australian Rally Championship. He also concentrated his efforts on family and business until a meeting with Ford Racing Manager Howard Marsden in 2003. It might have been three years later that Guest debuted with Ford, but his experience, speed and competitive spirit has been a great asset to the Pirtek Rally Team.