CYCA Members Brett and Karen Pearce have been crowned overall champions of the 2009 Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, and will walk away with a brand new Audi Q5 compact SUV as their major prize.

The Regatta, held on Sydney Harbour on 7 and 8 March 2009, produced a record number of entries this year, with 308 boats competing in 20 divisions.

The Pearce’s Beneteau 305, Broulee competed in PHS Division 3, and as the winners of their category, two crew members from the yacht then took part in the ‘Audi Final Challenge’ event held at Oran Park yesterday.

Audi’s Motorsport Ambassador and two-times former Super Touring Car Champion, Brad Jones, put two crew members from the 24 category winners through their paces in Audi’s sporty S5 tiptronic V8 quattro coupe.

Every boat had two chances to win, and had to demonstrate their prowess and accuracy on the tight slalom course. The most-consistent driver overall was then announced the winner of the Audi Final Challenge and the new Audi Q5 SUV.

Broulee’s winning driver was crew member Troy Fortune, who returned a fast and accurate time with just 0.02 seconds separating both of his slalom runs.

Audi’s brand new Q5 compact SUV made its Australian premiere just one week ago at the Melbourne International Motor Show from 27 February to 9 March 2009.

This versatile SUV is now just starting to arrive in dealerships around the country from the ‘launch weekend’ of 7 and 8 March 2009.

Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann, handed over the keys to the new Audi Q5 at a prize-giving last night (Monday 9 March 2009) held at the Regatta’s organizing club, Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

The Audi’s Q5’s versatile on and off-road capabilities make it ideal for weekends away, as well as day-to-day driving, and its streamlined coupe-like design and elegant interior mean the Q5 will look at home in the city, as well as open country roads. It also tows up to 2,400kg.

Brett and Karen Pearce also won two tickets on Audi’s legendary ‘Trans-Continental Crossing’ event in September 2007, after their name was drawn out in a lottery held at the Audi Winter Series (CYCA) prize-giving in 2007.

The Pearces, who actually celebrated their first wedding anniversary in the outback on the Trans-Continental Crossing, are now proud owners of a new Q5 SUV.

For all the news on the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, go to: www.audisydneyharbourregatta.com – Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta Media team