A massive EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) field will tackle this year’s Forest Rally with a stacked entry list of 39 crews confirmed for the second round of the 2025 season.
In what is one of the most diverse fields in recent years, there will be plenty of interest surrounding the event with a number of international and national stars to make their ARC debuts in Western Australia.
Headlining the 2025 Forest Rally entry list will be 2020 FIA Junior World Rally Champion Tom Kristensson and co-driver Andreas Johansson of Sweden, who arrive in Australia off the back of a victory in the Swedish Rally Championship earlier this month.
Two other notable entries for the event include another international in Irish entertainer Frank Kelly, who will contest the 2WD Classic Cup alongside his daughter Lauren in his world-renowned Baby Blue 1977 Ford Escort Mk2, and the world-class entry of Toby Price, who will be alongside Holly Kilbride for the 14-stage rally in the iconic Subaru WRX
View the full entry list here.
With the ARC field set to be one of the most competitive to date, the Swedish duo won’t be the only new additions battling for outright honours in WA this year. Popular driver Richie Dalton returns alongside Mac Kierans, while young gun Troy Dowel teams up with new co-driver Mitch Garrad as both crews run Toyota GR Yaris AP4s for the event.
All three crews join the strong list of outright ARC regulars, led by a pool of championship title contenders including Harry Bates and Coral Taylor, Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall, Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin, and WA local Alex Rullo and Steve Glenney.
New Zealand superstar Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard are also back for WA after an untimely incident at Toyota Gazoo Racing Rally of Canberra that caused an early retirement and will be looking to move to the top of the standings.
In the Cups, Clayton Hoy and Erin Kelly undoubtedly lead the huge 16-car WOLF Production Cup field behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6 in what is their first round of the year having missed Canberra.
The pair’s biggest threats will come through the likes of local crew Frank O’Shea and Murish O’Connell in the Subaru Impreza WRX and another international entry made up of Kiwis Graeme Ferguson and Ross Moody.
Running in a 1972 Ford Capri C2, Ferguson and Moody bring a wealth of experience from across the Tasman Sea, having taken on some of the biggest events in New Zealand for more than a decade.
View the full Spectator Instructions here.
The pair will form part of a hugely exciting 2WD Classic Cup field, joining the 1977 Ford Escort MkII of Frank Kelly in a impressive seven-car field entered that is one of its biggest ever.
Stacked with impressive machinery from yesteryear, other notable entries within the 2WD Classic Cup field include the 1986 Toyota AE86 – CRC of Glenn Alcorn, the 1971 Datsun IRL 1600 – C2 of Matt Shinnors and the 1990 Nissan Silvia – C2 of Nicholas Box.
Subaru will have a large presence in WA in addition to the multiple cars running across the board via the WRX Challenge, which kicks off its four-round season with a solid field of three cars, led by Price and Kilbride. The high-profile duo will face a fierce challenge from reigning WRX Challenge champion Glenn Brinkman and co-driver Jack Hughes and WA locals Andy van Kann and Catherine Saayman.
Also having a three-car field will be the 4WD Class Cup, which welcomes back ARC regulars Molly Spalding and Matt Dillon, while Rally of Canberra Cup winners Tony Sullens and Kaylie Newell (2WD Cup) and Jackson Long and Damian Long (Junior Cup) return.
Event Clerk of Course Ross Tapper was thrilled with the entry list and was looking forward to welcoming some of the best rally crews in the country and abroad to the forests of WA.
“With the depth of talent coming to Busselton and Nannup to compete on our unique ball-bearing gravel roads, you can expect plenty of fast, sideways-sliding action on the stages,” Tapper said.
“I’d like to give a huge thanks to our sponsors including Tourism Western Australia, ARC Plant Hire and ARB Bunbury because with their support we are able to keep it free for spectators. We just ask spectators to register online for a free ticket.
“We are excited to be again running the Forest Rally in WA’s beautiful southwest.”
Register for free tickets here.
The 2025 Forest Rally takes place in Nannup and Busselton in Western Australia on 23-25 May.
