Cameron Henry and Claire Buccini have completed a gritty and determined run at the 2025 Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland, overcoming a series of mechanical issues to reach the finish line in their 2015 Subaru WRX.

Backed by Virtual Security Guard and Buccini Transport, the duo faced a tough weekend in the Queensland Rally Championship (QRC) field, with their rally experience tested from the very first loop.

Their campaign began with high hopes after recce, where Henry described the stages as “the best I’ve seen in ten years” and shared a measured strategy of “just wanting to finish the event.” But early drama struck on Saturday when the exhaust manifold came loose, leading to a loss of boost, unpredictable handling, and a melted engine mount.

“The exhaust actually caused one of the engine mounts to catch fire and melt the rubber on the inside,” said Henry. “We were underpowered and had a few spins. I just couldn’t commit to anything because I didn’t have the drive out of corners.”

The crew’s service team worked tirelessly to repair the damage overnight, replacing broken manifold studs and restoring power. However, Sunday brought fresh challenges, with a gear selection sensor failure forcing Henry to manually shift gears using the clutch.

“It still didn’t want to change gears,” Henry explained. “Sometimes we were stuck in high gear or low gear, but we managed to get through and finish the day kind of unscathed.”

Despite the setbacks, the team climbed steadily up the QRC order throughout Sunday, recording a 10th-fastest time on the Glastonbury stage and showing real pace when the car allowed it.

“The roads were so fast and smooth. The council did a great job, and I’m glad we got to put on a show at the spectator points,” Henry said.

For co-driver Claire Buccini, the weekend marked a return to her rallying roots in Queensland.

“It was a bit of a box of chocolates, we never quite knew what the car was going to do,” she said. “But Cam did a fantastic job driving around the issues, and we worked really well together in the car.”

Buccini also confirmed that talks have already begun about pairing up again in the future.

“I wasn’t chasing a ride, but when one as good as this came up, it was a no-brainer. We’ve already discussed what’s next, I’d absolutely sit with him again.”

With their rally finished and valuable experience gained, both Henry and Buccini are walking away from Gympie with a deep sense of accomplishment and a clear goal to return stronger at the next round.