After months of waiting, the new era of the EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) finally begins this weekend with Toyota Gazoo Racing Rally of Canberra to kick off the 2025 season in style.
Taking place in the nation’s capital, Toyota Gazoo Racing Rally of Canberra has long been a part of the ARC and a favourite amongst teams, drivers and fans alike – its challenging roads and picturesque landscape making it a must-attend for the rally community.
Awaiting crews in the 2025 edition of the famous rally is more than 220 competitive kilometres over 16 stages and two heats, with the total distance spread equally across Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday’s Heat will be made up of eight stages and 112.66 kilometres and Heat 2 on Sunday wraps up the event with a further eight stages and 111.82 kilometres.
Before the action kicks off though, there will be a special rally show in the heart of Canberra on Friday night with fans invited to attend Bunda Street at Scotts Crossing from 5pm local time.
There, they will get their first glimpses at a star-studded field ready to tackle the weekend’s action – headlined by international great, Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard.
While Paddon has appeared in singular ARC rounds in the past – his most recent event being at Coffs Coast in 2022 for the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship final – the New Zealander has never contested a full season.
Understandably, Paddon will be one of the favourites for the title this year, however the local charge this year is significantly strong and will be offering a real challenge to the 2024 European Rally Champion.
Leading the charge is Canberra local Harry Bates and Coral Taylor, who will be looking to begin their title defence on a high. Bates is undoubtedly the king of Canberra having won this event half a dozen times.
His Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia teammates Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin, Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall in the new Skoda Fabia Rally 2, and rising star Alex Rullo and Steven Glenney round out the genuine title contenders for the round.
In the WOLF Production Cup, the battle between Techworkz Automotive’s Michael Harding and James Thornburn and young guns Joshua Wiedman and KJ Miller will be one to watch, while will be plenty of entertaining narratives in the other Cups, with a mix of debutants and experienced campaigners all taking part.
For fans planning to attend the weekend, there will be multiple Spectator Points available, all of which are free to attend.
Fans unable to attend Canberra can stay tuned via multiple Live Streams on the ARC Facebook and YouTube pages, while there will be live updates on X, and live timing via the Subaru Results Hub.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Rally of Canberra Clerk of Course Adrian Dudok was looking forward to the season opener.
“There has been a lot of work that has gone into this event and I think the best rally drivers in the country are going to put on a brilliant display for the people of Canberra,” Dudok said.
“We aren’t due for pure sunny days, but the forecast is decent and I think we should avoid what happened last year. I just hope the weather behaves!
“Of course we couldn’t be doing what we are without the incredible work of our volunteer officials and I’m eternally grateful for their efforts and dedication each and every year.
“A big thank you as well to Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia for getting behind this event. It’s brilliant to have such strong support from an organisation as prestigious as TGRA.”
Toyota Gazoo Racing Rally of Canberra takes place in and around the forests of Canberra on 21-23 March.
