The ARC’s Guide to Subaru Wilderness Rally Tasmania

The EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) heads south to the Apple Isle this weekend for the fourth round of the 2026 season, with the Subaru Wilderness Rally Tasmania set to deliver the championship’s first endurance event of the year.

Based in Burnie, the Subaru Wilderness Rally Tasmania marks the ARC’s return to Tasmania following last year’s season finale and, perhaps more significantly, the championship’s first winter visit to the island since June 2023.

A 17-car ARC field will take on the challenging Tasmanian forests across 15 stages and more than 210 competitive kilometres, with the outright championship battle set to intensify as crews tackle the longest event of the season to date.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia pairing Harry Bates and Coral Taylor arrive in Tasmania with the championship lead, holding a 30-point advantage over Pedders Rally Team protected by Famous Insurance duo Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall.

Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin sit third in the championship, a further 12 points behind Pedder and Macneall, setting up another crucial weekend for the three leading crews.

While the outright championship battle will headline the event, the WOLF Sports Cup is also set for a fascinating contest, with current leaders Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith facing multiple-time WOLF Sports Cup champion Bodie Reading and Brad Jones.

Reading returns to ARC competition for the first time this season and will lead the Tasmanian charge aboard his Subaru Impreza WRX, having previously teamed up with Jones during last year’s championship.

Toby Price and Ben Searcy will also be looking to continue their strong start to season in Tasmania after winning both Subaru WRX Challenge rounds contested so far in Queensland and Perth, while sitting within striking distance of Redhead and Winwood-Smith in the WOLF Sports Cup.

They will once again go head-to-head with Riley Walters and Andrew Crowley, who will be looking to close the gap on Price and Searcy in the Subaru WRX Challenge.

Serving as the fourth round of the ARC, the Subaru Wilderness Rally Tasmania will be the first endurance round of the season, meaning crews will battle across the entire event for one overall result rather than competing for separate Heat results.

That makes consistency particularly important, with the overall finishing order across all stages determining the championship points on offer.

The endurance format also changes the points structure, with the rally winner awarded 100 points, second place receiving 80 points and third place 70 points. This compares with the sprint rounds, where each Heat awards 50 points for a win, 40 for second and 35 for third.

Crews will tackle 15 special stages and approximately 210 competitive kilometres across Saturday and Sunday, with seven stages and around 116 competitive kilometres making up Saturday’s action.

Saturday also features one of the biggest stages on the 2026 ARC calendar, with the 43.52-kilometre Mawbanna Reverse set to provide a significant test for crews as the event reaches its longest stages.

Sunday features a further eight stages and around 93 competitive kilometres, including the third running of 4.8-kilometre BlackFish26, which serves as the event’s sole Power Stage and provides the final opportunity for crews to fight for crucial bonus points.

The event officially gets underway with Shakedown from 11:30am on Friday, before the Communion Brewing Co Rally Show launches the rally action in Burnie.

The Rally Show will take place at 57 Wilmot Street from 4:30pm and provide fans with the opportunity to get close to the cars and crews before competition begins.

Galvaniize Insurance Rally Central at the Burnie Bowls Club will serve as the central hub throughout the weekend, with fans able to watch crews service their cars at multiple points across the event.

The rally will conclude on Sunday afternoon, with the podium presentation taking place at Galvaniize Insurance Rally Central from 4:30pm.

Fans will be able to follow the Subaru Wilderness Rally Tasmania across a number of digital platforms, Speedcafe and Kayo Sports throughout the weekend.

Friday’s Shakedown will be streamed live from 11:30am, before Saturday’s competition gets underway with Highclere 1 (SS1), which will be broadcast from 9:00am.

Newhaven 2 (SS4) will then be streamed live from 2:30pm on Saturday, with the stage also featuring on Kayo Sports at the same time.

Sunday’s live coverage begins with Meunna 1 (SS9) from 9:40am, before Preolenna 2 (SS14) is broadcast from 2:30pm and also features on Kayo Sports.

All five live stages will be available across the Australian Rally Championship, Speedcafe and Rally Tasmania Facebook pages, as well as the ARC YouTube channel.

Fans can also stay up to date with live timing and results throughout the weekend via the Subaru Results Hub, while the ARC and rally social media channels will provide interviews, highlights and updates from Burnie.

The Subaru Wilderness Rally Tasmania will offer fans several opportunities to experience the action from dedicated spectator locations across the weekend.

The Highclere Spectator Point at the North Western Kart Club, located at 1522 Ridgley Highway in Highclere, will be open from 8:00am to 10:00am on Saturday, with the first car scheduled to pass at 8:45am for SS1.

The same location will also welcome spectators on Sunday from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, with the first car due through at 12:40pm for SS11.

Fans can also head to the Haywards Rally Village powered by Walsh Towing at Oldina Forest Reserve on Nursery Road, Oldina, with parking available at the spectator point.

The Rally Village will be open from 5:00pm to 7:30pm on Saturday, giving fans the opportunity to watch the first car pass SS6 at 6:00pm before SS7 follows at 6:45pm.

The location will again be open on Sunday from 2:00pm to 4:30pm, with the first car scheduled to pass at 3:15pm for SS15.

Fans are also encouraged to make their way to the Communion Brewing Co Rally Show on Friday afternoon and evening, while Galvaniize Insurance Rally Central at the Burnie Bowls Club will provide opportunities to see crews working on their cars throughout the weekend.