The EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) heads south to Tasmania this weekend for the fourth round of the 2026 season, with the Subaru Wilderness Rally Tasmania to provide the championship’s first endurance challenge of the year.
Based in Burnie, the event marks the ARC’s return to Tasmania following last year’s season finale and the championship’s first winter visit to the Apple Isle since June 2023.
A 17-car ARC field, out of a total of 33 cars, will tackle 15 stages and more than 210 competitive kilometres across the Tasmanian forests, making it the longest event of the season so far and providing another crucial test in the championship. Ten crews will be in contention for Motorsport Australia Tasmanian Rally Championship honours, and eight within the Motorsport Australia Tasmanian Rally Regularity Series.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia’s Harry Bates and Coral Taylor arrive as championship leaders, holding a 30-point advantage over Pedders Rally Team’s Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall.
Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin sit third, a further 12 points behind, ensuring another pivotal weekend for the leading crews.
The WOLF Sports Cup will also feature a compelling battle, with leaders Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith set to face multiple-time winner Bodie Reading and Brad Jones. Reading returns to ARC competition for the first time this season aboard his Subaru Impreza WRX.
Toby Price and Ben Searcy will look to continue their unbeaten start in the Subaru WRX Challenge after winning both rounds in Queensland and Perth.
They will again face Riley Walters and Andrew Crowley, while also targeting valuable WOLF Sports Cup points.
Unlike the opening sprint rounds, Rally Tasmania will be contested as a single endurance event, with crews earning one overall result across the entire rally.
The winner will score 100 championship points, with 80 for second and 70 for third.
Saturday features seven stages and approximately 116 competitive kilometres, including the 43.52-kilometre Mawbanna Reverse.
Sunday adds another eight stages and around 93 kilometres, culminating in the 4.8-kilometre BlackFish26 Power Stage.
The rally begins with Friday’s Shakedown from 11:30am, followed by the Communion Brewing Co Rally Show in Burnie from 4:30pm.
The Subaru Wilderness Rally Tasmania concludes on Sunday afternoon, with the podium presentation scheduled for 4:30pm at Galvaniize Insurance Rally Central.
