Special Stage: Aussies WIN in Finland, Gippsland's unique challenge

It’s a busy time. Our local stars are overseas competing and there's an all-important round of the Australian Rally Championship ready to kick off. The Special Stage Rally Podcast covers it all. RallySport Magazine’s Peter and Luke Whitten keep you updated with everything happening, including Taylor Gill’s Junior WRC exploits and the big talking points from the WRC’s leading men. Harry Bates is this week’s podcast guest as he talks about his experience in Japan at the famous Rally Hokkaido, and he shares the amazing nature of the country’s rallying scene. We also look forward to the Adelaide Hills Rally and have the tough task of trying to predict who finishes where. Special Stage is produced for the Motorsport Podcast Network by RallySport Magazine >> https://rallysportmag.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Brad Jones Racing Run Down, driver of the #96 Macauley Jones and BJR general manager Chris Westwood chat about what’s been a very busy week of pre-enduro testing. They talk about the two days the team spent at Winton, why the track conditions were ‘pretty sketchy’ for the first couple of hours, the intricacies of doing driver changes in a Gen3 car, changes that will mean faster fuel stops at the 2024 enduros, and preview next weekend’s Sandown 500. Become a BJR Member in 2024 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Special Stage Rally Podcast celebrates what would have been Geoff Portman’s 70th birthday. The two-time Australian Rally Champion was a huge figure in the sport of rallying and on the occasion of his birthday, we welcome the author of his book, Bruce Keys, to talk about his career. Peter and Luke Whitten also run through the news of the week, which has an international slant as both Harry Bates and Taylor Gill look to achieve big goals overseas this weekend. Special Stage is produced for the Motorsport Podcast Network by RallySport Magazine >> https://rallysportmag.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Special Stage Rally Podcast episode is predominantly about the East African Safari Rally which Australian Tim Wilkins competed on recently. Wilkins had a last minute opportunity to compete on the ‘Mini’ Safari Rally in a Datsun 1600 and also reveals his plans to do the full-blown event over nine days at the end of 2025. He talks with Luke Whitten for almost 40 minutes on just what the Kenyan experience was like and the many stories he has to tell about an amazing event. We also chat to AMSAG President Michael Bannon about the series’ first event of the season, and cover all the week’s rally news, from resignations to state championship winners. Special Stage is produced for the Motorsport Podcast Network by RallySport Magazine >> https://rallysportmag.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Brad Jones Racing Run Down, driver of the #96 Macauley Jones and BJR general manager Chris Westwood look back at the Tasmania SuperSprint. They talk about Bryce Fullwood’s breakthrough podium for BJR and the team’s improved form overall, the shunt for Jaxon Evans and how it’s prompted a change to the team’s pre-enduro testing schedule, how the team’s preparing for enduro season, Macca’s blunt take on the new ‘co-drivers can’t start the race’ rule, their thoughts on the incident that got Andre Heimgartner all fired up, and plenty more. Become a BJR Member in 2024 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us on this week's episode of the Special Stage Rally Podcast as we dive into a bumper edition featuring guest Tom Clarke. First up, we talk about Tim Wilkins and his Mini Safari Rally efforts, where he achieved some impressive stage times. We also delve into the potential sale of the World Rally Championship for a rumoured $800 million Aussie dollars and discuss it given the uncertain future of the championship.  We also cover the rally news on the RallySport Magazine website including the European Rally Championship, and a fascinating interview with Brian Green about his career and the upcoming Daybreaker Rally. Then, our exclusive interview with Tom Clarke airs, where he discusses junior development in the sport and shares some key insights of what’s happening in the White Wolf Racing world. Tune in for all this and more on episode 63 of Special Stage. Special Stage is produced for the Motorsport Podcast Network by RallySport Magazine >> https://rallysportmag.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last weekend's Gippsland Rally was plodding along without too many dramas until Scott Pedder threw a massive spanner into his ARC title hopes. Crashing on the final stage was hardly in the script, and the Skoda driver wasn't the only one to suffer that fate. On this week's Special Stage Rally Podcast we did deep into the Gippsland Rally to look at who starred and how others walked away with their trails between their legs. We review the Production Cup, the 2WD Cup, the Classics and the new Subaru WRX Challenge. There also a quick chat about 13-year-old Toby Musico's stunning rally debut in Finland in a Ford Fiesta Rally4. All that and more on this week's Special Stage Rally Podcast. Special Stage is produced for the Motorsport Podcast Network by RallySport Magazine >> https://rallysportmag.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Brad Jones Racing Run Down, driver of the #96 Macauley Jones and BJR general manager Chris Westwood look ahead to this weekend’s Tasmania SuperSprint. They talk about the french cutlet-shaped Symmons Plains and the expected chilly conditions, and how you prepare a Supercar to run in cold weather. Macca also talks about his enduro co-driver Jordan Boys, an upcoming sim race at Interlagos with BJR teammate Andre Heimgartner, what Olympic sport Macca would have a dip at – and whether they'd be game to swim in the River Seine – and plenty more. Become a BJR Member in 2024 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The famed Rally Finland is complete and we have new Australian winners – Taylor Gill and Dan Brkic. They won the Junior WRC section in amazing scenes, and now have a true championship battle on their hands. We talk to both of them after their milestone win, and ask what the preparation looks like for their season finale. Also discussed is the Gippsland Rally and the big battle at the front of the Australian Rally Championship between Harry Bates and Scott Pedder. Special Stage is produced for the Motorsport Podcast Network by RallySport Magazine >> https://rallysportmag.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining the Special Stage Rally Podcast from Germany, Peter Whitten details how the RallySport Magazine tour is going, and he updates us on what they’ve seen and where they’re going next. One of those stops is the famous Rally Finland, which takes place this weekend. We preview the action on what’s assured to be a fast-paced rally. Luke Whitten is then joined by Taylor Gill, who’ll be competing in the Finnish ‘Grand Prix’, as part of the Junior World Rally Championship. It’s only a brief chat, but it encapsulates what to expect from the rally this weekend. Special Stage is produced for the Motorsport Podcast Network by RallySport Magazine >> https://rallysportmag.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices