Special Stage: Paddon steps up when needed – a Forest Rally review

Returning to action this weekend, the Australian Rally Championship heads to Queensland, where the four-way title fight will continue with a vengeance. Lewis Bates and Hayden Paddon have won the opening two rounds of the series, but the likes of Harry Bates and Scott Pedder will be eager to get on the board with a win in the Sunshine State. Keeping these Rally2 cars on the road on treacherously narrow roads will be a tricky task at the world-class speed needed to win in 2025. Luke Whitten and Arron Windus discuss the prospects for the weekend ahead, while also looking back to a rough and rocky Acropolis Rally where there was success for a pair of Australians. 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

A rare link between rallying and Supercars took place over the past couple of weeks to lock in important dates in April next year and Peter Whitten talks about how that came about. Elsewhere on the podcast this week, we look ahead to the Acropolis Rally in Greece on what are notoriously rough stages, and we touch on the assault of a volunteer official at Victoria’s Nissan Nightmoves. 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 the centenary episode of the Special Stage Rally Podcast, Scott Pedder joins Peter Whitten to unravel the week of rallying and look ahead to Rally Queensland. Pedder gives his insights on Rally Poland, an event he’s done twice before in the World Rally Championship, and comments on the Australians competing overseas that are impressing the Victorian. Then, the conversation moves to the updates for his Skoda and his entry into this weekend's West Australian state round and just what he’ll focus on with the extra seat time. 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

Sebastien Ogier is only doing a part time program in the WRC, but he’s right in the title fight. We ask if he’s the greatest ever and if he should try for title number nine this year. The RallySport Magazine team then get into the popular Bega Valley Rally and the unique nature of Dean Ridge’s victory aboard a Ford Fiesta G4. He may have had two co-drivers during the event, but it was a fine win of more than 30 seconds ahead of two wheel drive runners Nathan Quinn and Claude Murray. Also discussed is Toby Price’s recent ARC plans and Hayden Paddon’s superb preparation for Rally Queensland. 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

2017 Australian Rally Champion, Nathan Quinn, joins the Special Stage Rally Podcast to talk to Luke Whitten about his last 12 months of rallying. That time period includes his incredible run at the Silver Fern Rally late last year, and the rebuild process of his pretty Mazda RX2. It’s timely we have the Coffs Harbour local on the podcast given his return to the stages is at this weekend’s Bega Valley Rally, and he talks us through just what to expect from the popular rally. He’s also quizzed on the World Rally Championship and tells us his thoughts on the state of the Australian Rally Championship after two of six nail biting rounds so far this year. 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 week’s episode of The Brad Jones Racing Run Down, the driver of the #96 Macauley Jones and BJR general manager Chris Westwood preview this weekend’s Supercars round at Wanneroo. Macca runs through the challenges offered by the abrasive surface, his “swamp donkey” teammate’s latest home round among the “André Supercars Series”, the logistics behind teams going direct from Perth to Darwin for the next round in a fortnight’s time, a story of team tactics gone wrong from his days in Formula Ford, and a big bit of news on the personal front. Become a BJR Member in 2025 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Australian Rally Championship finally got back into action in Western Australia last week and a wet rally created for more storylines than we expected. Hayden Paddon became only the third international driver to win a round of the series and with it overtook Lewis Bates for the championship lead. We talk about Scott Pedder’s strong speed and off-road excursion as well as look at where Harry Bates can improve for round three in Queensland. The ARC is shaping up to be a four way fight this season and the RallySport Magazine team unpack it all. 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 week’s episode of The Brad Jones Racing Run Down, the driver of the #96 Macauley Jones and BJR general manager Chris Westwood reflect on a busy couple of weeks for Albury’s Supercars team. They cover off the reaction to the announcement of their looming Toyota switch for 2026, look back at a Symmons Plains round that was fantastic Macca and the team all-round, their thoughts on how the new three-race sprint format is going, the DJR disqualification, their Super2 weekend, and Macca’s project car. Become a BJR Member in 2025 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A pre-event test is more important for some than others and RallySport Magazine’s Luke Whitten was there on cue to explain how the action was unfolding. Speaking with the likes of Lewis Bates, Toby Price and Alex Rullo, the podcast will transport you to Western Australia to learn more about what’s to come for the Forest Rally. Who was comfortable with their cars and who was trying to get as many kilometres as possible before the stop watch begins?  There’s plenty to understand from the test stage, near Nannup. 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

In this bonus episode of the Special Stage Rally Podcast, Luke Whitten is joined by Rally de Portugal winners Taylor Gill and Dan Brkic the morning after their second straight JWRC win. How were their celebrations? What about their tiredness? They’ve just completed one of the most gruelling World Rally Championship rallies in years and join us to share their stories from it all. We get an update on just how their winning weekend went and what’s on between now and their next round in Greece. 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