The Australian Rally Championship has been through a transition period. A change in ownership was the big move in the summer offseason, and a hotly contested series so far has many eyeballs on the sport. Luke Whitten talks to owners Adrian and Jill Coppin about where they hope to take the ARC and how they think the season has gone thus far. We ask about how they felt about the move away from Canberra, as they highlight what impact the ARC has on how the events shape up. The Junior Cup and the pathways into the top of the sport in Australia are also discussed in a wide-ranging interview. 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 news that Narooma will host a round of the Australian Rally Championship, replacing the Rally of Canberra, is big news, so who better to talk about this with than the rally's Clerk of Course, Adrian Dudok? The experienced Dudok explains the reasons behind the move, and what this means for rallying in Canberra moving forward. We also discuss last weekend's Rally Finland rollercoaster, where Toyota dominated by securing the top five places, and Australian Taylor Gill doubled his lead in the Junior World Rally Championship. The cancellation of the Rally of the Bay, and the winners of the South Australia's Barossa Rally, are also discussed in another big week for rallying. 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

Our beloved sport has had many eras, and it’s been able to thrive in all of them thus far. What about the next era, though? Road access is becoming trickier, as is the organisation of events. Brett Middleton chats with Luke Whitten about rally organisation and how car clubs are preparing for their events in the current age. There’s plenty of vital information to learn about and many ways we can spruik the benefits of our sport. 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

Rally Estonia was the most remarkable World Rally Championship event in recent memory. Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson waited 1,019 days for their second chance in a Rally1 car, and it took just one event to be on the top step of the podium. It was a meteoric rise and not just the shock of the season, but probably the shock of the decade. Luke Whitten and Alex Rullo chat about the rally, and we ask where the young Swede goes next with no more Rally1 drives locked in. Rullo also speaks about the improvement in his driving in the Australian Rally Championship and how his season is tracking. 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 Australian Rally Championship is at the halfway point, and RallySport Magazine spends significant time unpacking the proceedings thus far. What did we think of the action, and where do the likes of Harry Bates, Scott Pedder, and Lewis Bates go to catch the leader, Hayden Paddon? Can any of them catch the flying Kiwis?  All of this is covered in the 103rd episode of the Special Stage Rally Podcast, helped made possible by the RallySport Magazine subscribers. 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 episode of The Brad Jones Racing Run Down, the driver of the #96 Macauley Jones and BJR general manager Chris Westwood are joined by BJR founder, owner and boss Brad Jones. Along with wrapping up a promising but bruising Darwin Triple Crown weekend, they also chat about the persistent of ‘parity’ complaints from Ford drivers and teams, the format of this weekend’s Townsville 500 – including just who’ll be watching the Friday afternoon sprint race – the scale of the damage to Jaxon Evans’ primary car from his shunt at Hidden Valley, and the latest on their preparations for their switch to Toyota for 2026. Off the back of Shane van Gisbergen’s wins in Chicago, Brad shares some NASCAR street racing tales of his own, while Macca talks about his chance to steer a BMW Super Tourer recently. And guess who happens to have a few Super Touring stories up his sleeve… Become a BJR Member in 2025 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Returning to action this weekend, the Australian Rally Championship heads to Queensland, where the four-way title fight will continue with a vengeance. Lewis Bates and Hayden Paddon have won the opening two rounds of the series, but the likes of Harry Bates and Scott Pedder will be eager to get on the board with a win in the Sunshine State. Keeping these Rally2 cars on the road on treacherously narrow roads will be a tricky task at the world-class speed needed to win in 2025. Luke Whitten and Arron Windus discuss the prospects for the weekend ahead, while also looking back to a rough and rocky Acropolis Rally where there was success for a pair of Australians. 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

A rare link between rallying and Supercars took place over the past couple of weeks to lock in important dates in April next year and Peter Whitten talks about how that came about. Elsewhere on the podcast this week, we look ahead to the Acropolis Rally in Greece on what are notoriously rough stages, and we touch on the assault of a volunteer official at Victoria’s Nissan Nightmoves. 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 the centenary episode of the Special Stage Rally Podcast, Scott Pedder joins Peter Whitten to unravel the week of rallying and look ahead to Rally Queensland. Pedder gives his insights on Rally Poland, an event he’s done twice before in the World Rally Championship, and comments on the Australians competing overseas that are impressing the Victorian. Then, the conversation moves to the updates for his Skoda and his entry into this weekend's West Australian state round and just what he’ll focus on with the extra seat time. 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

Sebastien Ogier is only doing a part time program in the WRC, but he’s right in the title fight. We ask if he’s the greatest ever and if he should try for title number nine this year. The RallySport Magazine team then get into the popular Bega Valley Rally and the unique nature of Dean Ridge’s victory aboard a Ford Fiesta G4. He may have had two co-drivers during the event, but it was a fine win of more than 30 seconds ahead of two wheel drive runners Nathan Quinn and Claude Murray. Also discussed is Toby Price’s recent ARC plans and Hayden Paddon’s superb preparation for Rally Queensland. 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

2017 Australian Rally Champion, Nathan Quinn, joins the Special Stage Rally Podcast to talk to Luke Whitten about his last 12 months of rallying. That time period includes his incredible run at the Silver Fern Rally late last year, and the rebuild process of his pretty Mazda RX2. It’s timely we have the Coffs Harbour local on the podcast given his return to the stages is at this weekend’s Bega Valley Rally, and he talks us through just what to expect from the popular rally. He’s also quizzed on the World Rally Championship and tells us his thoughts on the state of the Australian Rally Championship after two of six nail biting rounds so far this year. 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 episode of The Brad Jones Racing Run Down, the driver of the #96 Macauley Jones and BJR general manager Chris Westwood preview this weekend’s Supercars round at Wanneroo. Macca runs through the challenges offered by the abrasive surface, his “swamp donkey” teammate’s latest home round among the “André Supercars Series”, the logistics behind teams going direct from Perth to Darwin for the next round in a fortnight’s time, a story of team tactics gone wrong from his days in Formula Ford, and a big bit of news on the personal front. Become a BJR Member in 2025 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Australian Rally Championship finally got back into action in Western Australia last week and a wet rally created for more storylines than we expected. Hayden Paddon became only the third international driver to win a round of the series and with it overtook Lewis Bates for the championship lead. We talk about Scott Pedder’s strong speed and off-road excursion as well as look at where Harry Bates can improve for round three in Queensland. The ARC is shaping up to be a four way fight this season and the RallySport Magazine team unpack it all. 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 episode of The Brad Jones Racing Run Down, the driver of the #96 Macauley Jones and BJR general manager Chris Westwood reflect on a busy couple of weeks for Albury’s Supercars team. They cover off the reaction to the announcement of their looming Toyota switch for 2026, look back at a Symmons Plains round that was fantastic Macca and the team all-round, their thoughts on how the new three-race sprint format is going, the DJR disqualification, their Super2 weekend, and Macca’s project car. Become a BJR Member in 2025 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A pre-event test is more important for some than others and RallySport Magazine’s Luke Whitten was there on cue to explain how the action was unfolding. Speaking with the likes of Lewis Bates, Toby Price and Alex Rullo, the podcast will transport you to Western Australia to learn more about what’s to come for the Forest Rally. Who was comfortable with their cars and who was trying to get as many kilometres as possible before the stop watch begins?  There’s plenty to understand from the test stage, near Nannup. 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

In this bonus episode of the Special Stage Rally Podcast, Luke Whitten is joined by Rally de Portugal winners Taylor Gill and Dan Brkic the morning after their second straight JWRC win. How were their celebrations? What about their tiredness? They’ve just completed one of the most gruelling World Rally Championship rallies in years and join us to share their stories from it all. We get an update on just how their winning weekend went and what’s on between now and their next round in Greece. 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

A very special BONUS episode of The Brad Jones Racing Run Down this week because – as you might have heard – they’ve got a bit of news… The driver of the #96 Macauley Jones is joined by team owner Brad Jones to talk about their looming switch to Toyota for the 2026 Supercars Championship season. They cover the lead-up to the decision, the agonising Brad did over the decision, why he finally settled on changing and some of the behind-the-scenes things that will happen before the first BJR Supra hits the racetrack. Become a BJR Member in 2025 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Special Stage Rally Podcast, Luke Whitten catches up with Dean Herridge for a chat full of the big talking points. With the Forest Rally just around the corner, Dean shares his unique insights on the rally and just how the deal with Tom Kristensson came about to drive the team’s Skoda Fabia R5.  The Subaru WRX Challenge is also a key point in this podcast, and he shares how it’s shaping up, especially given Toby Price on the entry list.  Then, the conversation shifts to the WRC and Rally de Portugal, where we ask whether Toyota’s dominance can continue. 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 episode of The Brad Jones Racing Run Down, the driver of the #96 Macauley Jones is joined by team owner Brad Jones to wrap up the last few weeks since Taupō and preview this weekend’s racing at Symmons Plains. They chat about what a race team does when there’s no racecars in the workshop, Brad’s first ever trip to a zoo, the new Dunlop soft tyre, whether different manufacturers having different ‘tracks’ is what parity should look like, and the potential for a New Zealand double-header. Brad, the 1994/95 Australian NASCAR Champion, also shares his take on Shane van Gisbergen’s performance so far in his maiden full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Become a BJR Member in 2025 >> https://www.bradjonesracing.com.au/bjr-memberships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brendan Reeves and Mitch Newton join Luke Whitten on the Special Stage Rally Podcast to talk about the week’s news and also give a valuable lesson on ‘blind’ rallying. Reeves and Newton give their tips and tricks on driving and co-driving on route chart rallies – a style that is a large part of the Australian rallying calendar and what most beginners start with. Prior to that, the discussion covers Toby Price, Taylor Gill, and the Ada River and South Canterbury rallies. 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