Rally of Canberra 2024: what you need to know

ENTRY

A total of 29 crews will compete as part of the Australian Rally Championship section of the rally with Harry Bates (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Lewis Bates (Toyota GR Yaris AP4) leading the way. The brothers are favourites for the rally and elder brother, Harry, is gunning for his sixth straight win in Canberra.

Tasmanian Eddie Maguire and returning champion, Scott Pedder, are seeded third and fourth on the entry list. Each is aiming high in their Skoda Fabias.

Former Supercars driver Alex Rullo is seeded fifth in his Hyundai i20 N Rally2.

Of the 29 on the entry list, 18 will be in the Production Cup class, while two will contest the Junior and 2WD Cup, and four will be in the rejuvenated Classic Cup.

STAGES

This year’s Rally of Canberra is remarkably similar to what was seen last November. The majority of the stages are the same, with only slight variations on what the series saw a few months ago.

Like in 2023, the opening stage of the rally will be the longest. Oakey Camp, at 22.22km, is arguably the toughest of the rally and will set the field apart early in the event.

Weather will be on the lips of every competitor heading into the rally. A significant amount of rain is scheduled during the rally, providing a difficult task for cars to complete the difficult terrain cleanly.

As a Sprint event, the rally is split into two Heats, each with 50 points up for grabs for the winner.

A clean sheet on Sunday morning could be vital for those who may have struggled the day prior.

Heat 1: Six stages, 102.06km

Heat 2: Six stages, 76.22km

The Power Stage is the last stage of the rally and offers an extra 10 championship points for the winner.

On its second pass, the Bald Millpost stage acts as this important stage and is just over nine kilometres in length.

SPECTATORS

The two days of rally competition are run on Saturday and Sunday and they are unique to each other.

Saturday’s stages are west of Canberra in the Tidbinbilla region, while Sunday’s action is to the east, near Queanbeyan in the Kowen Forest.

Viewing locations for spectators are available off Brindabella Road and Paddy’s River Road on Saturday, with Kowen Road the access point on Sunday.

The Service Park is also a crucial part of the event, with Pedders Rally Central at EPIC (Exhibition Park in Canberra) a hub for all things throughout the weekend.

FOR THOSE AT HOME

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

7plus will broadcast live shows at the end of each day’s competition, while other live streams and video content will be available from the series and leading teams during the weekend.

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