Harry Bates and Coral Taylor hold a narrow championship lead ahead of Round 3 of the Australia Rally Championship. Image: Supplied
Having held successful state-based events for several years, this year marks the first time the national category will tackle the forests surrounding Narooma.
All eyes will be on championship leaders Harry Bates and Coral Taylor after a hard-fought podium in Western Australia.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing pair all but dominated Round 1 of the season in Queensland, however were unable to repeat the heroics on the west coast.
A tight championship battle looms as the season enters its halfway point, with Harry and Taylor just 10 points clear of Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall.
After scoring their first victory in two years, the Pedders Rally Team pair sit just seven points clear of the second TGR entry of Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin in the standings.
The Toyota crews will have the slight advantage of familiarity heading into Narooma, having already competed in the event at a state level.
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Father and son duo Damien and Jackson Long will be looking to bounce back after a tough outing in the west, currently sitting sixth in the standings, 100 points from the top.
Swedish pairing Tom Kristenssen and Andreas Johansson do not return following a west coast cameo, nor do the entries of Alex Rullo/James Marquet and Peter Rullo/Brad Jones.
With the Subaru WRX Challenge class not making the trip to NSW, Toby Price and Ben Searcy are likely to lose fourth place in the outright championship standings.
Troy Dowell and Bernie Webb are poised to take the position from Price/Searcy with a new-look entry, now piloting a Ford Fiesta Rally2 in place of their Toyota Yaris.
A total field of 42 cars will tackle the Narooma forest, split evenly between outright and state-level competitors.
“We are extremely pleased with the ARC turnout for the national championship’s first ever event here, and we look forward to welcoming the best crews in the country to Narooma,” said Clerk of Course Adrian Dudok.
“What’s even more exciting is the diversity of cars throughout the entry list – ranging from the top-spec machinery of the Rally2 cars to the old-school cars you don’t regularly see in the country’s highest level events.”
Round 3 of the EROAD Australian Rally Championship is set to take place on June 26-28.
2026 Narooma Forest Rally Entry List
2
Harry Bates
Coral Taylor
2024 Toyota GR Yaris – Rally 2
ARC
3
Scott Pedder
Glenn Macneall
2025 Skoda Fabia RS – Rally 2
ARC
4
Lewis Bates
Anthony McLoughlin
2024 Toyota GR Yaris – Rally 2
ARC
5
Jackson Long
Damien Long
2015 Skoda Fabia – R5
ARC
6
Troy Dowel
Bernie Webb
2023 Ford Fiesta – Rally 2
ARC
7
Josh Redhead
Ray Winwood-Smith
1998 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 5 – P5
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup
8
Tony Sullens
Julia Barkley
2012 Peugeot 208 – AP4
ARC, East Coast Cup
NSWRC
9
Tom Clarke
Brad Jones
1995 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 3 – C1
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup, Classic Cup
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup
10
Warren Lee
David Lethlean
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9- P5
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup
11
Kristian Sprenger
Jarrad Vanderhor
2008 Subaru WRX STi – P5
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup
12
Jaidyn Gluskie
Mitch Garrad
2003 Subaru Impreza RS – P5
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup, Junior Cup
13
Mal Hurley
Reagan Hurley
1999 Subaru Impreza WRX – P5
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup, ACT Gold Cup
14
Darren Crozier
Michelle Crozier
2009 Ford Fiesta – G4
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup
15
Jarrod Keyte
Chris Stilling
2008 Subaru WRX STi – P5
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup
16
Dale Linaker
Matt Lee
2001 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 7 – P5
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup
17
Nathan Stokes
Ian Wheeler
2012 Subaru Impreza WRX – P5
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup
18
Shane Garner
Sylvie Garner
1994 Subaru Impreza WRX – P5
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup, Classic Cup
19
Wayne Stewart
Lucas Zinsstag
2014 Volkswagen Beetle – G4
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup
20
James O’Malley
Jono Forrest
2014 Toyota 86 – P3
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup, 2WD Cup
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup, 2WD, ACT Gold Cup
21
Lucas Reed
Isaac Ellis
2004 Subaru Impreza RS – P4
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup. Junior Cup
NSWRC
22
Christopher Carney
Kelly Carney
1991 Toyota Corolla – P3
ARC, WOLF Cup, East Coast Cup, Classic Cup, 2WD
NSW Rally Championship
23
Richie Dalton
Mac Kierans
2020 Toyota GR Yaris – AP4
NSWRC
24
Dean Ridge
Muireann Hayes
2009 Ford Fiesta – G4
NSWRC
25
Andrew Penny
Rhys Llewellyn
1995 Subaru Impreza WRX – C3
ACT Gold Cup
26
Declan Foley
Ken Murphy
2002 Subaru Impreza WRX – P5
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup
27
Bethany Cullen
Mel McMinn
2000 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO- P6
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup, ACT Gold Cup
28
Stuart Collison
Lance Arundel
2006 Subaru Impreza WRX – P5
ACT Gold Cup
29
Meng Chung
Russell Hannah
1989 BMW E30 M3 – C3
ACT Gold Cup
30
Dennis Stanford
Luke Stanford
1995 Subaru Impreza WRX – P6
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup, CRS 4WD, ACT Gold Cup
31
Dylan Furche
TBA
2001 Subaru Impreza RS – P6
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup
32
Daniel Mc Aloon
Patrick Miskely
1975 Ford Escort RS1800 – C3
NSW Clubman 2WD
33
Damian Nugent
Seth Nugent
1992 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO3- C4
NSWRC, CRS 4WD
34
Andrew Chapman
Jim Gleeson
2012 Toyota 86 – G2
NSW Clubman, CRS 2WD, ACT Gold Cup & Clubman
35
Robert Gorst
Joanne Gorst
1970 Datsun P510 – CRC
NSWRC, NSW 2WD 1601 – 2000, CRS 2WD
36
Blake Stevens
Stephen Kent
1992 Honda Civic – C2
NSW Clubman, CRS 2WD 0-1600, ACT Gold & Clubman
37
Harrison Hudson
Tommi Flegl
2004 Subaru Impreza WRX – P5
NSW CRS 4WD
38
Anthony McVeigh
Jason Browne
1995 Honda Civic – P2
NSWRC, NSW Production Cup, NSW 2WD 0-1600, CRS 2WD
39
John Sparkes
Toby Goldburg
1992 Nissan Silvia – P4
NSW Clubman 2WD
40
Michael Chora
Rachael Ferrante
1995 Subaru Impreza WRX – P5
NSWRC, CRS 4WD
41
Nigel Bland
Mickey Rouke
2003 Holden Commodore – P3
NSWRC, NSW 2WD 2001 – Over
42
Jack West
Ian Douglas
1999 Hyundai Excel – P2
NSWRC, NSW 2WD 0-1600
43
Mike Jankowski
Paul Wentworth
1970 Datsun 1600 – CLB
ACT Gold Cup & Clubman