Teenage sensation Jackson Long’s growing development in the EROAD Australian Rally Championship will continue in October, with the youngster to make the step up from the Subaru Impreza RS to the Subaru WRX for the Adelaide Hills Rally.
Having impressed during the ARC’s opening three rounds of the 2025 season, where he currently leads the ARC Junior Cup and sits second in the WOLF Production Cup, Long will contest the Subaru WRX Challenge in South Australia thanks to an opportunity presented by Glenn Brinkman.
With Brinkman already committed to running his iconic Ford Escort Cosworth in the South Australian Rally Championship, the Queenslander has opted to give his current WRX to Long for the round to aid his progression in the sport.
“I’ve been watching him and his dad, and he’s doing all the right things,” Brinkman said.
“He’s running a Subaru RS and doing it step by step, not just getting thrown into the deep end with an outright four-wheel-drive car.
“I’ve got a commitment to Subaru to have the WRX Challenge cars at every round of the ARC. Since I can’t drive this one in Adelaide, it made perfect sense to hand it over to someone like Jackson.
“I couldn’t think of anyone better.”
For Long, who finished this month’s Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland with a career-high outright seventh place, the opportunity to upgrade came at an exciting time at the popular Adelaide Hills Rally, which features technical stages and high-speed sections.
“Glenn’s been incredibly generous, not just with this opportunity but with how much he gives back to the sport,” Long added.
“It means a lot to be trusted with the car, and I’m looking forward to making the most of it.”
The Subaru WRX has had two rounds in the 2025 season so far, with Australian superstar Toby Price and Holly Kilbride currently leading the way after winning in both Western Australia and Queensland.
Price is not expected to contest the WRX Challenge in Adelaide though, giving Long a strong chance to add another piece of silverware to his growing collection.
The EROAD Australian Rally Championship continues next month with The Middle of Everywhere Gippsland Rally to take place in Gippsland on 21-24 August.
