Special Stage: Speedy South Australian roads ready for ARC battle

What a heart breaker! Taylor Gill came so close to winning the 2025 Junior World Rally Championship that it's still hard to believe what we witnessed. The Special Stage Rally Podcast team discuss the Central European Rally with a fine tooth comb, and despite the result, we couldn't be any prouder of Taylor and Dan Brkic and the season they produced. There was also plenty happening at the top end of the WRC, while closer to home, we recap last weekend's Akademos Rally in Victoria, and look ahead to the state championship finale in Western Australia. We touch on Jackson Long's new-for-2026 Skoda Fabia R5, and what's next for rallying's top juniors, now that the FIA Rally Star program has concluded. Rallying is a never-ending story, so join us this week as we talk about the hot topics. 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 Special Stage Rally Podcast, we delve into last weekend's Adelaide Hills Rally, the fifth round of the Australian Rally Championship. It saw another masterclass from Kiwi Hayden Paddon, but also ended the title hopes of Harry Bates after he put his Toyota off the road. We discuss the implications from the weekend, review the performances of some of your favourite drivers, and look ahead to the final round in Tasmania. Taylor Gill's Rally3 win in Croatia is also on the agenda, as is the upcoming round of the New South Wales Rally Championship. It's getting close to Alpine Rally time as well, with several drivers already beginning their preparations. 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

Round five of the Australian Rally Championship is ready to run, with the Adelaide Hills Rally set to challenge crews up and down the field. A couple of lesser-known voices take over the Special Stage Rally Podcast to preview the event as RallySport Magazine’s Matt Whitten is joined by reigning ARC Junior Cup winner, Mitch Garrad. They talk about the ARC round, the Croatian round of the European Rally Championship and what’s news in rallying this week. 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

Regular Special Stage Rally Podcast guest, Brendan Reeves, took out the Victorian Rally Championship at the weekend and he joins us to talk all about it. From sending it on his favourite stage, Mt Slide, to replicating what his father and brother did years earlier, this is a wide-ranging chat that also unearths what’s next for ‘Brendo’ for the rest of the year. We also touch briefly on the Australian Rally Championship’s class changes and ‘Brendo’ gives his thoughts on what it may mean for the future. Episode 113 of Special Stage is one not to miss. 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 BJR Run Down, BJR general manager Chris Westwood and the driver of the #96 Macauley Jones break down a big weekend at The Bend, how the track raced at its first endurance race, plus how things went down from the team’s four cars on track. The latest parity changes are examined, plus why the 2026 calendar needs to make sense. And of course, there is the latest on the race that stops the nation: the Shitbox Rally on Macca’s Shake N Bake Farm! Become a BJR Member in 2025 >> ⁠https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was Australia’s champion versus our best young talent at the weekend in Narooma, but it was a battle that was far too short... This week’s Special Stage Rally Podcast covers the Narooma Forest Rally, won by Harry Bates and Mac Kierans. We will discuss the fast stages of the south coast of New South Wales and share our impressions of what the national championship will be in for when it visits next June. Also on the agenda is a brand new Otago Rally book being produced by RallySport Magazine. It's one to look out for a little bit later in the year. We detail all the info you need to know. The Valley Stages, Richie Dalton’s incredible Irish experience, and of course, WRC Rally Chile are all covered in what’s a brief but jam-packed episode of the 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

Tim Possingham has two big events in South Australia, and the Adelaide Rally is up next.   With more than 450 entries on the list, including the likes of Hayden Paddon, Alister McRae and Frank Kelly, we ask him about the process of getting those big names.   He shares some of the secrets of the rally and just how they go about running the event with support from the South Australian Government. 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

The wraps came off the Gen3-spec Toyota Supra Supercar ahead of this week’s edition of the Brad Jones Racing Run Down. BJR general manager Chris Westwood and the driver of the #96 Macauley Jones chat about the car’s first track laps, which Macca was on hand for at Toyota Australia’s in-house test track. They also give an update on the progress of BJR’s first Supra chassis, and how it’s going to be a very busy Christmas in Hope Court this year. They also chat about the upcoming enduros, The Bend 500 and Bathurst 1000, as well as the even bigger contest that is looming: the battle of the BJR crew in the Shitbox Rally on Macca’s Shake N Bake Farm! Become a BJR Member in 2025 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jackson Long is the 2025 Australian Rally Championship Junior Cup winner, and it’s overdue that we get him on the podcast to talk about his career so far. Currently completing his year 12 studies, Jackson has had a busy 2025. He’s fitted in plenty of his passion – rallying – to his timetable this year. He shares what he thought of WRC Rally del Paraguay with RallySport Magazine’s Luke Whitten, and tells what’s next in the upcoming ARC rounds of South Australia and Tasmania. There’s also a tease for something new for 2026. 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

The 2025 Gippsland Rally has been run and won, so what do we make of Hayden Paddon's domination over the two days of competition? The RallySport Magazine team discuss what the result means for the Australian Rally Championship, and what we liked and didn't like about a rally in “The Middle of Everywhere". Jackson Long and Tony Sullens both wrapped up their respective ARC Cups, and we also saw an eye-catching performance from a former ARC event winner in his state series. We also touch on this weekend's cancelled Rosewood Rally, look ahead to the WRC's first visit to Paraguay in South America, and comment on a former cricket star's rallying debut. It’s all 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