Impressive Turnout at VRC Season Opener as Traverso and Carr Secure Victory

A significant turnout at the inaugural round of the 2026 Victorian Rally Championship (VRC) has set a promising tone for the remainder of the season.

The Mitta Mountain Rally, a prestigious event in the rally calendar, kicked off the championship approximately an hour’s drive south-east of Albury-Wodonga.

Last weekend, Danny Traverso and Anthony Carr showcased their skills in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, leading the charge among the 50 registered competitors to secure the title with an impressive eight-minute victory (2:03:51). They also clinched victories in both heats on Saturday and Sunday.

Rally officials confirmed that a total of 37 crews entered the VRC field. Traverso and Carr set the pace early, leaving the Nissan Pulsar team of Jake Bramble and Phillip Bonser trailing, as they secured third and fourth place in the respective heats with a total time of 2:11:33.

“We’re incredibly proud of this achievement; it’s our first outright win in the VRC,” said Traverso.

“We’ve often found ourselves finishing second or third in the past, always just a whisker away from victory. It’s usually been Brendan Reeves or other competitors who’ve bested us. So, I’m delighted with the result and the effort we put forth today.”

Defending Victorian Champions, Reeves and Aidan O’Halloran, will aim to bounce back in the next round after an unfortunate series of events forced them out of both heats due to strikes from rocks during the second and final stages of the event.

Rowan Quill and Michelle Canning, in the #10 Nissan 180SX, came in third overall and topped the Club and 2WD classes with a time of 2:11:50. They started their 2026 campaign in great shape, finishing fifth in the Saturday heat and improving to second on Sunday.

In the Victorian Club Rally Series, Andrew Taylor and Michael Stanbrough claimed victory in the Datsun Stanza with a commanding four-minute lead (1:57:31) over the Historic Rally Association’s duo of Raymond Garrad and Shane Walters (2:01:29) in their Subaru Impreza, while the Datsun 1600 team of David Lawrance and Darren Davison secured third place overall (2:07:10).

In the first round of the East Coast Challenge Rally Series, Jeffrey David and Grant Geelan (#13 Porsche 911) along with Bramble and Bonser took home the respective wins in the 2WD and 4WD classes.

Darryn Snooks, the Motorsport Australia Victorian State Rally Chair, who also encountered misfortune with a stray rock during Stage 4 causing a tyre puncture and a subsequent loss of drive on Sunday, expressed his satisfaction with the weekend’s attendance.

“The Mitta Mountain Rally is a highly respected event on the Victorian rally calendar, and participants recognise its significance each year,” Snooks remarked. “It’s great to see such a solid turnout this year. Getting that first event completed is crucial, and we trust it sets the foundation for another successful season ahead.”

Details regarding the second round of the 2026 VRC season will be announced in the coming weeks.

To stay updated on the Victorian Rally Championship, visit www.vicrally.com.au.