Gympie Kicks Off the Race for the 2026 ARC Title

The 2026 EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) kicks off this weekend, six months after an exhilarating conclusion to the 2025 season.

For the first time in its history, the Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland will launch the season from 17-19 April, set in the vibrant heart of Gympie.

Competitors will take on this well-loved Queensland event, featuring a blend of forest stages and thrilling action right in the town centre.

Twenty-two crews will line up for this opening round, with an exciting showdown expected between the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2s from Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia and the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2s from the Pedders Rally Team, backed by Famous Insurance.

Leading the Toyota charge in the brand new GR Yaris Rally2 is three-time champion Harry Bates, paired with co-driver Coral Taylor. They are joined by 2022 champions Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin, forming a powerful two-car team.

Pedders Rally Team counters with a solid pairing of Skoda Fabia Rally2s, led by 2014 champion Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall. Meanwhile, rising talent Jackson Long will join Damian Long for outright competition, following a remarkable rookie season.

The depth of talent at the opening round is impressive, with standout names such as Toby Price making his mark in the Subaru WRX Challenge, and both Josh Redhead and returning Josh Wiedman participating in the WOLF Cup. Notable drivers like Darren Crozier, Wayne Stewart, Troy Dowel, and Shane Garner will also be in the mix.

Fans can look forward to over 176 competitive kilometres across 15 stages of action.

On Saturday, the eight stages will cover 94km, while Sunday’s seven stages will make up 82km.

Saturday’s action will kick off later than usual, with the first cars expected to hit the opening stage at 9:53am AEST. Highlights include the event’s inaugural Campbell’s Super Special Stage, which will take place twice in Gympie, and a new Saturday Power Stage scheduled for the afternoon.

Sunday will feature both the Power Stage and six additional stages, starting at 8:36am AEST and culminating with the Power Stage at 2:04pm AEST, followed by the podium presentation at 4:30pm.

This year, the Galvaniize Insurance Rally Central will be centrally located in Gympie, offering fans numerous chances to get close to the cars.

Throughout the weekend, fans can stay connected to all the Rally Queensland action via multiple platforms.

This weekend also marks the beginning of the ARC’s landmark broadcasting partnership with FOX SPORTS Australia and Kayo SPORTS, featuring live coverage of SS6 and SS16 on both services.

In addition to the new live streams, both the ARC and Speedcafe’s official Facebook and YouTube channels will provide live coverage of several stages, including SS1, SS9, and SS12.

Fans can also track live results on the Subaru Results Hub and enjoy a variety of updates and interviews through the ARC’s Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on rally.com.au.

With a compact schedule, a strong entry list, and a historic season opener, the 2026 Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland promises to deliver a thrilling and action-packed start to the ARC season.