MAIDA Vale resident Brett Morse in his 2019 BMW M2 with co-driver Rodney Ng finished fastest at last week’s Lance East Exotics Tarmac West.

After a three-year pause, the event  saw 50 competitors race the clock on closed roads around Whiteman Park, Ellenbrook, Parkerville, Kalamunda, Toodyay, Maryville, Bullsbrook, Malaga and the City of Perth.

Morse was more than three minutes ahead of his nearest rival, the 2017 Lotus Exige of Heuson Bak and Roger Tan.

Competitors started at 30-second intervals, with the winner being the fastest over all 33 stages, a total of 250 competitive kilometres, across four days.

Rounding out the top three was the rally’s only EV entrant, the 2019 Tesla Model 3P+ driven by Jurgen Lunsmann with co-driver and wife Helen Lunsmann, just 13 seconds behind Bak, and 3:17 minutes behind the winner, Morse.

Morse took the lead in day 2 and never looked back.

Day 2 was held in and around Parkerville and Kalamunda. Morse finished the day’s six stages, 46.5km, in either first, equal first, second or equal second with Bak who similarly finished every stage first, equal first, third or equal third.

Morse said it felt good to end the day with a good result, taking the lead.

“The Parkerville and Kalamunda stages are more suited to our car,” Mr Morse said.

“After the Kalamunda East stage, we came across some really nice spectators who asked for a selfie, they were having a wine and enjoying the rally action in the sun.

“We’re plugging along doing our thing, and a few things have fallen our way with competitors who’ve had issues,” he said.

Kalamunda’s Haynes Street was closed off and turned into a service park for a one-hour service and lunch stop.

Hundreds of spectators took the opportunity to get up close to the rally cars as crews furiously carried out repairs, maintenance and the usual checks and balances.

Competitors then tackled the notoriously tight Zig Zag stages, twice.

Two Kalamunda stages were cancelled because of delays, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of competitors who were mostly all smiles on a beautiful 28-degree sunny day.

Mr Morse had a game plan, to go out hard and fast early, and the plan came to fruition.

“I’m thrilled, it’s taking a bit to sink in, we work really hard in our sport and it’s great to get a reward,” he said.

He has contested seven Tarmac West events and his best previous result has been fourth (besides a win in the entry-level 130 Class in his first year).

“Thanks to Ross the event organiser, all the fans, my sponsors, G-Spec, it’s a team sport, you can’t do this one your own, and a huge thanks to Rodney my co-driver – to call notes doing warp speed is incredible, I don’t think I could do it.”

The event is only possible thanks to a dedicated committee and an army of 500 volunteers.