Pedders Suspension and Brakes has confirmed it will field a two-car line-up for the 2026 EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) as young rising star Jackson Long joins Scott Pedder for the season.
In what is its first two-car charge in the ARC since 2010, the expansion solidifies the new era for the team with Pedder behind the wheel of his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, while Long will campaign his newly acquired Skoda Fabia R5.
In an added bonus, Maximum Motorsport has confirmed it will once again run the team as owner Dean Herridge takes on the full-time role of team manager after recently stepping down from his ARC broadcast commitments.
Both drivers bring plenty of firepower to the team, with Pedder a proven winner in the championship having won the 2014 Australian Rally Championship and last year’s Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland.
Although this year proved quite forgettable on the results front, Pedder still ended the year with a number of stage wins along with a podium in Canberra.
Long on the other hand is one of the sport’s most exciting young commodities with the New South Welshman having picked up the ARC Junior Cup and two Subaru WRX Challenge victories in his first full-time season in the championship.
In addition to his silverware success, he finished fourth in the WOLF Production Cup standings and finished fifth on the outright ARC standings after finishing all but one round inside the top 10. Pedders have had a long history in supporting Australian Rally talent with now Jackson Long added to a list of names that include Hugh Bell, Ed Ordynski, Simon Evans and more recently, Troy Dowel and Harry Bates.
“Obviously to have two cars again is special, but to have a young kid that has got some serious talent, the right attitude and a great family is really great,” Pedder said.
“Pedders and the team have been looking at an opportunity to put back into the sport by providing some support, tuition and help for someone that’s got clear talent and drive.
“Jackson has a lot of consistency for an 18-year-old kid and last year was without any major issues, which shows a high level of maturity – something that I certainly haven’t had yet at 49. So, he’s already beating me there.”
“I am hoping to help him with the finer details of the sport, both from on the track and commercially as well. The Long family is clearly passionate about rallying and I sort of see a lot of similarities in Jackson and myself from 30 years ago.
“I think it’s the responsibility of the older people to help the younger generation, and they do it really well in motor racing and other sports. But for some reason, rallying is not so great on that front, so Glenn, myself and Dean look forward to a big year with Jackson which is hopefully just the start of a long and successful rally career.”
Long was also highly excited for the next stage of his young career.
“Joining Scott for the 2026 season is an amazing opportunity for both myself and dad. To be in a proper team with Maximum Motorsport by our side is incredible,” Long added.
“However, to have such amazing support and guidance from Scott, who’s obviously an extremely experienced driver and an Australian champion, is invaluable for what I’m trying to do.
“Having that sort of guidance, along with what dad provides with his vast experience, is exactly what I needed to continue my development, and yeah it’s just super exciting to be representing a team and have a teammate like Scott.
“Being in that environment where it’s a lot more professional and I can focus on the driving and my development means a lot to me and it’s highly beneficial as I don’t need to worry about anything else apart from improving.
“It feels like a professional rally team and gives me a good aim to get to someday in Europe so I feel it’s going to help a lot with us having a successful year this year.
“It’s a huge opportunity and everything is going to be very exciting, so I am grateful to Scott and everyone at Pedders, as well as Dean and the Maximum Motorsport team for their belief in getting behind me.”
The new partnership is a major coup for the ARC as it sees Skoda elevated to genuine contenders for the manufacturers’ title, joining current champions Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia and Hyundai as the major players.
Pedder and Long will officially begin their first season as teammates with the Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland on 17-19 April but the teamwork has already begun with Pedder assisting Long during the first test of his new Skoda R5 in Perth last month.
