Troy Dowel

Following an interrupted year behind the wheel in 2025, Troy Dowel has confirmed his intentions to return to the EROAD Australian Rally Championship in 2026 for a full campaign.

Once again locked in to run with Neal Bates Motorsport in his Toyota GR Yaris AP4, Dowel will be looking to gain some consistency after continuing his road to recovery in 2025.

Dowel has faced lots of adversity during his early adulthood, having endured a battle against leukaemia; however, following a successful treatment plan and a full bone marrow transplant in 2024, Dowel was able to make it back to the ARC and get back to competing.

In 2025, the Victorian attended five rounds, with his best result a sixth-place finish at The Middle of Everywhere Gippsland Rally, along with a pair of seventh-place finishes in Western Australia and South Australia. He will team with Bernie Webb, one of Australia’s most experienced navigators.  

Despite being able to make almost every round after getting over a major hurdle in his life, the 25-year-old still faces a long road ahead, with the focus now turned on his fitness.

“The main plan for me is to do more ARC in 2026 and try to get back to my best,” Dowel said.