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Les Walkden |
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 Les Walkden is one of the most prominent figures in Australian rallying, having been involved in the sport at all levels over a long period of time.
A highly regarded driver in his own right, the Launceston trucking operator has, for many years, turned his hand to running his own team, with a string of successful results to his credit.
Drivers such as Ed Ordynski, Juha Kangas, Michael Guest Cody Crocker, Dean Herridge, Tony Longhurst, Grant Denyer, Brendan Reeves and Eli Evans have all driven for LWR in recent years, winning championships and events along the way.
Walkden has also moved into event organisation, and now owns the successful Rally Tasmania, which in 2009 was the first round of the Australian Rally Championship.
The urge to compete has not left Walkden, however. He occasionally gets behind the wheel of one of his Subarus to keep his eye in, and has recently competed successfully at the Mt Buller Sprint, and in his own Rally Tasmania.
The likeable Walkden shows no signs of slowing down, and looks set to be involved in rallying for many years to come. |
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Linda Long |
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 As one of Australia’s most experienced co-drivers, Linda Long forms an integral part of Les Walkden Rallying.
As well as co-driving for Tony Longhurst (and Les Walkden), Linda arranges all the event logistics for LWR, ensuring that the team arrives at the right place at the right time, and that everything runs to plan.
Her career highlights include winning the Australian Rally Championship for Formula 2 cars in 1997 and 2002, and taking outright wins in events such as East Coast Targa.
She has sat beside some immensely talented drivers, with over 20 years experience in Australia, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe, and has worked for many of Australia’s top rally teams. |
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Simon Ritchie |
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 Nickname: "Bodge"
Simon started his motorsport career at the age of 13, co-driving for mates until he was 17. He then race motorcycles and dirt bikes until he was 30.
He competed in dirt and grass track and A Grade speedway in Tasmania, and then built a V8 Commodore rally car in 1999.
A former Club Rally Champion driver, Simon has been working with LWR part-time since 1998, and in his own words, “has never looked back”.
He has three children. |
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Greg Smith |
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Grant Howse |
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 Born in South Africa, Grant moved to New Zealand and now lives in Australia.
His father raced circuit and supercars in South Africa, and Grant started racing go karts at the age of eight, something he continued until he was 18.
He raced Go Karts for two years in New Zealand, then did one year of rallying in a front-wheel drive Corolla
Grant moved to Australia and worked for Possum Bourne Motor Sport from 2003–2005, worked for LWR on the 2006 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship program, and spent 2007 with the Pirtek Rally Team, working on their Super 2000 Ford Fiesta.
He started working full time with LWR in 2008, and moved to Tasmania.
Grant has one son. |
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