Forest Rally 2024: what you need to know

The rally was first a part of the ARC calendar in the 1980s and this year is the 40th anniversary of its inclusion on the national series’ calendar.

It’s a testament to the West Australian organisers, particularly Ross Tapper, who has been the ‘head honcho’ behind the event for many years.

What can competitors and fans alike expect from the rally, though?

ENTRY

Despite the travel distance to the Busselton and Nannup based event, the entry list for the second round of the ARC is quite similar to what was seen at the opener –at least at the pointy end.

The top 10 seeds of the Rally of Canberra are all there filling the top 11 positions on the entry list. The only exception from last round is the insertion of Dylan King to the field.

King’s Toyota Yaris AP4, winner of two rounds of the ARC in years past in Harry Bates’ hands, is seeded sixth and ready for a fight at the front of the field if his state series speed is anything to go by.

Tony Sullens (Peugeot) is a late out, as is state graduate Ali Aslam (Subaru), but the depth in the field is still there thanks to various West Australians making the step up to the national entry list.

Craig Rando, eagerly awaiting the completion of his new Toyota Yaris AP4, has been forced to use his Subaru once again, but will use his familiarity with the car to challenge the favourite in the Production Cup field, Molly Taylor.

Gary Mills and Tim Hiles are also leading state competitors ready to challenge the ‘visitors’ and are both seeded inside the top 15.

STAGES

Like the famous Rally Australia events in the 1990s and 2000s, Western Australia’s ball-bearing gravel roads are what competitors will face.

The gravel is unlike anywhere else. Balls of gravel  cover the surface, which is incredibly slippery.

While roads made famous by the WRC won’t be used in this event, the gravel stretches across the state and are used in this event.

Familiarity will be common for the majority of competitors as a high portion of the rally’s roads were used as recently as last year.

The Helium, Thorburn and Ferndale stages are either identical or very similar to 12 months ago, and the Healthway stage uses roads year-on-year for more than a decade.

Lewana is the stage that may just prove to be the difference maker. Its 15.22 kilometres are all-new and a big challenge for each of the contending drivers.

As part of Heat Two of this Sprint event, teams will need to navigate this new stage twice in order to make the finish.

Heat 1: Six stages, 102.06km

Heat 2: Six stages, 76.22km

SPECTATORS

The rally is offering two spectator point options on each day of the rally, with Friday night’s Rally Show and Ceremonial Start on the Busselton Foreshore kicking things off.

Cars will be on show from 4:30pm, with all teams on show from national stars to local hopefuls.

A spectator option just six kilometres from the Nannup Service Park will be available on Saturday, while there’s just a nine-kilometre trek for those wanting the action on Sunday.

FOR THOSE AT HOME

Rally updates will be available via the RallySport Magazine website and social media accounts, while the official Australian Rally Championship website is the place for results on all devices via their Subaru Results Hub.

Live shows will be broadcast at the end of each day’s action on 7plus, while live streams and videos will be available on social media from the series and leading teams.

2024 Australian Rally Championship Calendar

Round 1: Rally of Canberra – 5-7 April

Round 2: Forest Rally – 17-19 May

Round 3: Rally Queensland – 28-30 June

Round 4: Gippsland Rally – 9-11 August

Round 5: Adelaide Hills Rally – 13-15 September

Round 6: Rally Launceston – 22-24 November