Troy Bennett Motor Sport
D.O.B: 20/11/75 Marital Status: Single Lives: Melbourne
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Despite being just 28 years of age, Troy has already established a solid reputation and a list of credentials of which those twice his age would be envious. Troy’s first experience in rallying was at the age of 3 weeks, taken in a stroller to the George Derrick Trial by his father Sam. Sam, a vastly experienced and accomplished competitor, engineer, and in later years, organiser and official (Sam was in fact founding chairman of the Rally Scrutiny Panel in Victoria), passed on his passion and enthusiasm for the sport to Troy, who showed a keen interest from an early age. One of four children, Troy is the only child of the Bennett clan to follow in his father’s footsteps, although his younger brother Corey, while still only 11, is counting down to his 14th birthday so he can get his navigator’s licence! His older brother, Jason, is a senior broadcaster and sports journalist with the Fox Footy network, but showed as much interest in motorsport as Troy has in broadcasting football!
While keen to get involved as possible from an early age, Troy’s mother decreed that school must remain the priority, until he graduated in 1993, with a mark in the top 1% in the State for Theatre Studies. In 1996, Troy got his big break in rallying, being asked to join Automotion Motorsport, organisers of the World Cup Australian Safari, part of the World Championship for Cross Country Rallying, joining events such as the famed Paris Dakar Rally. The experience Troy gained in his 2 years at Automotion proved invaluable, as well as providing some of the best experiences of his life. Learning all facets of event management and organisation from Automotion boss Bob Carpenter, Troy returned to State Championship rallying in Victoria, helping the Cerberus Car Club establish the Strzelecki Stages Rally, heralded as one of the most professional events on the rally calendar.
It was at this time that Troy bought his pride and joy, an LA Lancer rally car he christened “Larry”. Troy has used the car for zeroing countless events, but is actually yet to compete in it, which may have something to do with the fact that “Larry” is one of only 3 genuine Ralliart Lancers ever built in this country, for such events as the Southern Cross, BP, and Alpine rallies, making the car a unique piece of Australian rallying history. Unable to stay away from Cross Country Rallying for long, Troy was recruited to drive for Mitsubishi’s factory assisted team, Roo Rally. Driving the team’s Pajero Io in the “Formula Four Production” class, Troy remains unbeaten to this day in both class and division in this car!
At the end of 2003, Troy became a little restless, and felt it was time to set yet himself another challenge. Wanting to be in control of his own destiny, help young people get into rallying, and give something back to the rally community, Troy established Troy Bennett Motor Sport (TBMS). Such was the success of the organisation, Mitsubishi threw their support behind TBMS, establishing them as the official factory team in Cross Country Rallying.
And so to today. TBMS continues to develop new programs, working with young people and helping the rally fraternity wherever possible. Troy’s passion and enthusiasm for rallying continues to grow, as does his reputation and standing in his chosen sport. Dividing his time between Mitsubishi, TBMS, his position on the staff at Wesley College and his studies at Deakin University, Troy, by his own confession remains “thoroughly single”, as the chance of meeting the future Mrs Bennett “would require her to book about 6 weeks in advance”! “Unless of course she can navigate!”
