Harry Bates to tackle World Rally Championship’s Rally of Portugal

Three-time EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) winner Harry Bates has announced he will take on the world’s best in 2026 after confirming his entry to the FIA World Rally Championship’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal.

Behind the wheel of a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Bates will run with leading European rally team Sports Racing Technologies (SRT) and have four-time American Rally Champion Keaton Williams as his co-driver for the event.

Portugal will be Bates’ maiden WRC event outside of Australia and New Zealand, and his first running in WRC2 since he competed in Rally New Zealand a couple of years ago.

Honouring of his father Neal and current ARC co-driver Coral Taylor, Bates will roll with am old school livery and was looking forward to the challenge.

“This is an incredible opportunity to compete at Rally Portugal and step into WRC2 again,” Bates said.

“Portugal is one of, if not the biggest rally in the world and it’s a rally I’ve dreamt of doing for a long time. It’s going to be a huge challenge, but one we’re ready to take on.”

Before Bates goes to Portugal, he will first begin his 2026 campaign at this weekend’s Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland in Gympie on 17-19 May before heading to Europe for the rally, which takes place on 7-10 May.

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