The first day of the 2025 EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) has been complete with a dozen crews dusting off the cobwebs during the Championship’s official test day in the Kowen Forest,
With crews getting plenty of time throughout the day to get behind the wheel and test, it was 2024 champions Harry Bates and Coral Taylor who reigned supreme overall, topping the timesheets with a run of a little over two minutes.
Taking place on a tailored stage of around four kilometres, all eyes were on this year’s title contenders as crews got their first look at the likes of international superstar Hayden Paddon and the new Skoda Fabia Rally 2 of Scott Pedder and Glen Macneall.
Both Paddon and Pedder were among the fastest of the lot by the end of the day – with the New Zealander just seven tenths off Bates, while Pedder was fourth fastest overall with his time being just two and half seconds off the pace.
Splitting Bates and Paddon on the timesheets was the second Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia GR Yaris of Lewis Bates – the 2022 champion’s best time just four tenths off his brother.
Rounding out the top five was Alex Rullo and Steve Glenney, who got quicker as the day wore on – eventually falling short of Pedder by just three tenths.
Teenager Jackson Long got his first ARC experience and he produced some good times and crucial seat time ahead of his debut next week.
While most crews enjoyed a positive day out, Tom Clarke had a tricky day behind the wheel as radiator issues prevented him from getting proper runs on stage for much the morning before a roll over ended his day prematurely and caused significant damage to the car – putting him in some doubt for next week.
Tony Sullens also had some dramas early on, but was able to amend the issues and get some valuable testing time in.
The 2025 EROAD Australian Rally Championship season opener kicks off with the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia Rally of Canberra on 21-23 March.
Overall Times
Harry Bates – 2:00.2
Lewis Bates- 2:00.6
Hayden Paddon – 2:00.9
Scott Pedder – 2:02.6
Alex Rullo – 2:02.9
Peter Rullo – 2:05.2
Tom Clarke – 2:05.4
Josh Redhead 2:09.4
Stewart Reid 2:10.7
Tony Sullens – 2:11.8
Jackson Long – 2:13.6
Trevor Stilling – 2:14.6
