New Roads, New Rivals: A Fresh Route for Australia’s Premier Gravel Showdown
Motorsport Australia has officially released the calendar for the 2026 EROAD Australian Rally Championship, confirming a six‑round series that spans six states and territories. This marks the removal of the ACT round and the introduction of a brand‑new New South Wales event in Narooma, switching up the locations in a significant reshuffle.
| Round | State / Host Organisation | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Queensland / Brisbane Sporting Car Club | 17–19 April | Season opener at Rally Queensland |
| 2 | Western Australia / WA Car Club | 22–24 May | Forest Rally in WA |
| 3 | New South Wales / Brindabella Sporting Car Club | 26–28 June | Narooma debuts as a championship round |
| 4 | Tasmania / ARC Promoter Pty Ltd | 14–16 August | Rally Tasmania moves from November to mid‑August |
| 5 | South Australia / Ultimate Motorsport Events | 2–4 October | Adelaide Hills Rally maintains its October slot |
| 6 | Victoria / Vroom Events | 20–22 November | Gippsland Rally closes the season with awards ceremony |
Calendar Highlights & Strategic Shifts:
- Narooma steps in to replace the Rally of Canberra, marking its debut as an ARC round and removing the ACT event for 2026.
- Rally Queensland opens the season in mid-April, anchored by Gympie’s popular Wheels on Mary rally show.
- Rally Tasmania moves from its traditional November slot to mid-August, aiming for improved weather and tighter logistics.
- The Gippsland Rally in Victoria will now serve as the final round of the season, accompanied by the end-of-season awards ceremony.
What This Means:
The revised calendar lays out a well-balanced season:
- Northern rounds (Queensland, WA, NSW) kick off the action in warmer conditions
- Tasmania offers mid-season cool stages, ideal for tactical driving.
- Adelaide Hills Rally remains a core event in springtime South Australia.
- The finale in Victoria offers fast roads and the prestige of crowning the champions.
ARC event director Jill Coppin noted that the schedule offers greater geographical flow and stronger regional engagement. For competitors, this means new challenges and opportunities in evolving conditions.
Perspective from Vittorio Caneva Rally School:
For elite drivers trained across surfaces from our Pro Gravel courses to mixed-tarmac precision, this ARC schedule underlines the importance of adaptability. The mid-season shift to Tasmania’s cooler climate and the high-speed finale in Victoria will demand strong pace notes, surface reading, and consistency under pressure.
This is a season to master evolution, both on the stages and within the championship chase. Let us know if you want a stage-by-stage analysis or driver prep insights for each round.
