A number of ARC Cup winners will return to the Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) joining a mega entry list as part of Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland.

Returning for the first time in 2024 among the huge 62 car entry list, with 31 of those registered for the ARC, is last year’s MainFix Production ARC Cup winners Bodie Reading and Mark Young. The Tasmanians eager to defend their crown at the first of their four point-scoring events this season.

2022 Junior ARC Cup winners, Molly Spalding and Matthew Dillon, also return in their Subaru Impreza with the pair eligible for the MainFix Production ARC Cup and Spalding eligible for the Junior Cup.

On top of that, ARC regulars Luke Anear and co-driver Malcolm Read will also make their return to the Championship for his first round in 2024. For the first time in years, Anear won’t be piloting a Ford Fiesta, instead this time aboard one of the 2022 Championship winning Neal Bates Motorsport Toyota GR Yaris AP4 previously steered by Lewis Bates.

Mix those returning competitors with the strong field that has featured in the opening two rounds of the Championship, and Queensland will dish up something special.

A number of local competitors will also cross-enter in both the ARC and Motorsport Australia Queensland Rally Championship including Clayton Hoy in his speedy Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6. Hoy and co-driver Andrew Bennett will be eager to push for Production Cup honours and push the other contenders hard, including the likes of Molly Taylor and Andy Sarandis, as well as Reading and Young.

RNB Motorsport’s Ryan Williams and Brad Jones also return to battle for ARC and QRC honours, this year in a 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX.

Tasmanians Aidan Peterson and Mitchell Newton will be another pair battling for Production Cup honours in their Subaru. 

A number of key contenders will also be battling it out for the Trenching Systems Australia 2WD Classic ARC Cup – including Ryan Smart and Holly Kilbride, Clay Badenoch and Angus Fraser, Peter Dimmock and Paul Bennett, along with 2023 Classic ARC Cup champions Dave Thompson and Matthew Sanders.

The outright battle also continues of course, with Harry Bates and Coral Taylor first on the road – with Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin nipping at their heels.

After a strong start in Western Australia, Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall will be eager to claim more stage wins in their Pedders Suspension and Brakes Skoda Fabia R5.

Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland Clerk of Course Brian Everitt said the strong entry list, combined with the amazing local support would set the scene for one of the best Queensland events in years.

“The interest in the ARC, from both the competition and marketing perspectives, continues to grow and with it comes increased entry numbers,” Everitt said.

“This is especially important for the ongoing generosity of our sponsors and supporters like Accent Benchtops and the Gympie Regional Council, without whom, events of this scale would most definitely not be possible.

“Big name competitors, backed by a strong and emerging manufacturer base is just so pleasing to have as an organiser and is one of the major drawcards to this event.

“It will be really exciting to see the whole field of 70-odd cars at the ‘Wheels on Mary’ street party on Friday evening. The crowd last year was the biggest on the Gympie events calendar and with the inclusion of entertainers and food stalls, should again make a great start to the weekend, not to mention throwing in a rock concert on Saturday evening at the Showgrounds adjacent to the KickAss Service Park and Pedders Rally Central.”

The 2024 Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland will take place on 28–30 June.