MEDIA RELEASE- For Immediate Release, October 26

CHRIS ALAJAJIAN’S CHANGE OF SCENERY

Rising circuit racing star Chris Alajajian will tackle something completely different when he makes his rally debut at the WPS Rally of Bathurst on October 28-30, round six of the 2005 Globalstar Australian Rally Championship.

Alajajian, a race winner in both the Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship and Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star this year, will drive a Subaru Impreza RS in the Subaru Rally Challenge class of the championship.

“This will be the first Rally that I have attended, let alone driven in, but rallying is something that I have an interest in, I enjoy reading about it and watching it on TV,” said Alajajian.

“Subaru offered me a drive in the rally and it didn’t take long for me to accept. My background is in circuit racing, but the weekend will be a great opportunity to drive something very different and learn about it.

“I’m really looking forward to it and I’m really grateful for the opportunity Subaru have given me.”

While rallying is a new discipline for Alajajian, hopping into the car for the rally alongside his co-driver for the event Thomas Smith is a challenge he is looking forward to.

“The other day I went out with Rick Bates to have my first go at rallying at his rally school. We drove to Canberra and out into the bush where they had a rally course setup to practice on and conduct lessons.

“We went out in an old Gemini, and it was really good fun. Obviously it was very different to anything I’ve ever done before but it really gave me a good introduction to rallying and the skills involved, so now I’m looking forward to the rally and having some time to learn.”

For Alajajian, it is another chapter of his career at the wheel of Subaru’s. In 2004, he claimed the Australian Production Car Championship driving a Subaru Liberty GT, becoming the youngest ever driver to win an Australian National Championship at just 17 years of age.

In 2005, he has steered a WRX Impreza STi to five race wins in the Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship. He also drives a Subaru on the road.

“Subaru’s are great cars, on the road and the racetrack,” Alajajian said. “I’ve had so much success with them and they are a great car to drive.

“The funny thing is, I’ll be driving an Impreza RS in the Rally, which is the same model as my road car which I have had for the last two years. It’s a good safe car that people can adjust to quite easily.”

The weekend will be Alajajian’s first racing outing at Bathurst since the 2003 Bathurst 24hr. In torrential rain, he won his class - becoming the youngest person to ever do so on the legendary Mount Panorama - in the 2 hour showroom showdown.

It is the start of a busy period for Alajajian. On November 4-6, the weekend immediately following the WPS Rally of Bathurst, he heads to Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney and gets back into the more familiar territory of his regular Protecnica Racing Formula 3 mount.

It will be for the penultimate round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star, which will serve as the primary support races for the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Australia.

Chris will race the Jack Hillermans Smash Renault-Sodemo Dallara F304 and currently sits third in the championship. The last time Formula 3 visited Eastern Creek, he scored a pair of second place finishes.

On that weekend, a fundraising dinner will be held on November 4 at La Montage Restaurant, at Leichardt in Sydney’s inner west.

The function, which will feature a three course dinner, entertainment and special guests, will help generate funds to aid the further progression of Chris’ career and help him fulfil his potential.

Tickets for the event are $125, and bookings can be made with Elaine Clayton on 9418 7482.

Chris Alajajian thanks the ongoing support of Jack Hillermans Smash, Subaru Australia, Elf Oil, Scuderia Veloce Motors, Nudie, Workflow Systems, Bilstein, Moody Kiddell & Partners, Travel Cafe, Heasman Steering, Disc Brakes Australia, Hawk Performance, Monza Mens Boutique and H & R Springs.

For more about Chris Alajajian, check out www.TheChris.com.au