The entry list for this month’s Toyota Gazoo Racing Rally of Canberra has been finalised with a strong field of 26 EROAD Australian Rally Championship crews entered for the 2025 season opener.
The star-studded entry list boasts a deep title contender pool of at least five crews, as well as some of the world’s best rally machinery – all combining to kick off the highly anticipated season in style.
Headlining the entry list set to battle in the nation’s capital will be international superstar Hayden Paddon and John Kennard in the same spec Hyundai i20 N Rally2 he steered to European Rally Championship glory in 2024.
The New Zealanders will have no shortage of local talent up against them in the opening round of Paddon’s first full campaign in Australia, with reigning ARC champions Harry Bates and Coral Taylor leading the charge.
Joining the 2024 championship-winning Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 of Bates and Taylor will be Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia teammates Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin, as both crews will be hoping to utilise their hometown advantage to start the season on a high.
Plenty of talk has occurred around Scott Pedder’s stocks in 2025 and his brand new Skoda Fabia Rally 2 will certainly boost his chances – the 2014 champion has once again acquired the services of the ever-skilful Glenn Macneall as his co-driver.
Title contenders Alex Rullo and Steve Glenney in their Hyundai i20 Rally 2, IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing teammates Peter Rullo and Ben Searcy, Ford representatives Tom Clarke and Ryan Preston, the New South Wales pairing of Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith, and the returning Stewart Reid in his Mitsubishi Mirage AP4, round out the strong outright field.
Canberra locals Mick Hardick and James Thornburn lead the way in the WOLF Production Cup, with the Lancer EVO 6 – P5 crew’s biggest rival being rising star Josh Wiedman and co-driver KJ Miller, as well as Andrew Penny and Rhys Llewellyn.
Other notable Cup entries include Production Cup and 2WD Cup entrants Tony Sullens and Kaylie Newell in their Citroen DS3 – P4, and 1984 Quattro C3 pilots Mal Keough and Pip Bennett, who will face fierce competition in the class from Molly Spalding and Matt Dillon in their newly-acquired 1995 Subaru Impreza Wagon.
The 2025 ARC season kicks off with the Toyota Gazoo Racing Rally of Canberra on 21-23 March in and around the forests of Canberra.
