2025 GREAT TARMAC RALLY DELIVERS THRILLING FINALE AND CROWNS CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

The 2025 Great Tarmac Rally concluded spectacularly over the weekend, delivering two days of high-intensity

competition across Victoria’s most challenging alpine tarmac stages. The event not only crowned its outright winners

but also confirmed the overall victors of the 2025 Australian Tarmac Rally Championship.

Over approximately 260 competitive kilometres, 73 crews tackled a mix of flowing, technical, and high-speed sections,

including the renowned Eildon–Jamieson Road and the iconic Reefton Spur. Saturday offered clear skies and grippy

conditions, while Sunday brought torrential rain and slippery roads, testing both car control and concentration right to

the finish line.

Outright Results:

Dean Lillie and co-driver Chris Exner dominated the overall standings in their Mazda RX7, consistently topping stages

to secure a commanding victory. Jonathan Moir and Brad Jones in their Ford Escort Mk2 finished a strong second, just

over four minutes behind the leaders, while Matthew Gibbens and Tim Jurd in the Lotus Exige rounded out the

podium. Jason and Fiona Wright in the Nissan R35 and Jeremy Dennison with Casey Rumble in the BMW M140i also

delivered impressive performances throughout the event.

Category Highlights:

• Rally Challenge: Joel and Ben Argentino impressed in their Holden VU SS, while Warwick and Chris Hope in

the Nissan Skyline R33 GTST retired, highlighting the rally’s demanding conditions.

• Rally Sport: Matthew Gibbens and Tim Jurd secured first in their Lotus Exige. New pairing Jamie Whitmore

and Mark Young impressed with second in their Porsche Cayman. Gibbens’ performance also secured him

third outright overall.

• Classic: Hugh Feggans and James Callahan claimed victory in their Porsche 911 C2, narrowly ahead of Cam

Lepp and Josh Herbert in the Datsun 240Z. Keith Morling and Tristan Stirling-Cameron completed the podium

in the Ford RS 1800. Retirements included Bruce Power and Russell Hannah in the Mazda RX7, and Robin

and Peter Lowe in a Datsun 240Z.

• Classic Super Rally: Jonathan Moir and Brad Jones won in the Ford Escort Mk2, with Meng Chung and Doug

Fernie in the BMW E30 M3 second, and Peter and Christopher Schey in the Datsun 260Z third. Retirements

included Tim and Kathryn Branch in the Mitsubishi Starion and Dane Stokes and Darragh Lynch in a Ford

Escort.

• Early Modern 2WD: Dean Lillie and Chris Exner dominated in the Mazda RX7, followed by Roger Lomman

and Annie Bainbridge in the Nissan 350Z, and Michael Linke and Dominic Crosby in the Mazda RX7FD. Ted

Merewether and Jennifer Gillott completed the top four in the Renault Megane R26.

• Early Modern AWD: Neil and Sue Cuthbert claimed victory in the Mitsubishi Lancer, with Justin Waterhouse

and Adrian Bryant in the Mitsubishi Evo X second, and Michael Chora and Rachael Ferrante in the Subaru

WRX STi third.

• Modern 2WD: Xavier Franklin and Jaidyn Gluskie took the win in their Porsche GT4, narrowly ahead of Mark

Griffith and Bernie Webb in the Mercedes-Benz AMG GTR.

• Modern AWD: David and Jackie Thirlwall dominated in their Audi RS3, followed by Michael Minshall and Rhys

Llewellyn in the Audi TTRS, and Greg and Rhonda Burrowes in the Toyota GR Yaris.

• Modern Super Rally: Jason and Fiona Wright triumphed in the Nissan R35, narrowly ahead of Jeremy

Dennison and Casey Rumble in the BMW M140i. Brent and Gary Coleman in the Subaru WRX STi retired

after going off-road on SS16.

2025 ATR Championship:

Jason and Fiona Wright secured the 2025 Australian Tarmac Rally Championship title, demonstrating remarkable

consistency across the four-event series.

Reflecting on their achievement, Jason Wright said:

"After two years of coming into the final round with a points lead but failing to finish due to mechanical issues, we

changed our strategy in 2025 to focus solely on the championship. The competition this year was on a whole new

level, with multiple teams exchanging outright stage wins. We knew we’d be going head-to-head with Dean and Chris

for stage wins and the championship. Dean’s pace and commitment in a 30-year-old Mazda were incredible, and

racing with him and Chris has been an absolute privilege. Securing the 2025 Championship and maintaining our

friendship with Chris and Dean makes this victory even more special."

Looking Ahead to 2026:

The 2025 Great Tarmac Rally concluded with a thrilling glimpse of the future. Crews and fans were treated to the first

look at the 2026 calendar, and the response was electric – cheers and applause filled the room. Two new events, a

spectacular three-day finale, and a major rebrand promise to elevate the championship to an entirely new level,

signalling that the 2026 season will be bigger, faster, and more spectacular than ever.