ROTARY ROCKET: MAZDA RX7 DOMINATES MT BAW BAW SPRINT 2025

The Mt Baw Baw Sprint 2025 delivered spectacular motorsport drama across the winding alpine roads, with Dean Lillie/Chris Exner taking an emphatic overall victory in their Ravage Raceworks 1995 Mazda RX7. The seasoned driver held a commanding pace throughout the weekend, finishing more than a minute and a half ahead of his closest rival.

Second place went to Jason & Fiona Wright in their powerful 2011 Nissan R35, while Matthew Gibbens/Tim Jurd, driving a Lotus Exige, rounded out the outright podium.

Lillie & Exner’s performance was nothing short of dominant, navigating the tight, technical stages of Mt Baw Baw with precision and flair. “The car was faultless, and the team nailed the setup,” Lillie commented at the finish line. “We couldn’t be happier with the result on such a demanding course,” Exner stated.

The top five was fiercely contested, with Jonathan Moir/Brad Jones (1976 Ford Escort Mk2) and Xavier Franklin/Jaidyn Gluskie (2016 Porsche GT4) finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, showcasing the diversity of cars and talent in this year's field.

Jonathan Moir/Brad Jones delivered a standout performance in the Classic Super Rally category, taking the class win in his 1976 Ford Escort Mk2. Fellow Escort crew Dane Stokes/Anthony Carr pushed hard to secure second place, finishing 10 minutes and 41 seconds behind Moir/Jones. Rounding out the podium was Meng Chung/Doug Fernie in their 1989 BMW E30 M3, just 8 seconds off Stokes’ pace.

Notably, Laura & Gavin Rogers claimed sixth overall in their 2016 Porsche Cayman GTS.

This year’s edition also witnessed multiple class battles across a variety of historic and modern machinery. Despite the retirement of several entrants due to mechanical issues and off-road incidents, the event maintained a high standard of competition and sportsmanship.

Justin Waterhouse/Adrian Bryant led a Mitsubishi-dominated Early Modern AWD, taking a well-earned victory in his 2015 Mitsubishi Evo X. John & Janet Ireland followed closely behind, finishing just 1 minute and 24.8 seconds adrift in their 2010 Mitsubishi Evo 10. In one of the closest battles of the event, Allan & Kerry Hines crossed the line just 0.1 seconds behind Ireland to claim third. Allan Rumble/Brett Williams brought his 2008 Mitsubishi Evo 10 RS home in fourth, while Paul & Sharon Poulter rounded out the top five after a challenging run. Unfortunately, Michael Mansey/Julie Winton-Monet’s campaign ended early after they went off the road on SS8.

The Modern AWD class saw fierce competition with Llewellyn Cameron/Drew Hamilton (2021 Toyota GR Yaris), David & Jackie Thirlwall (2016 Audi RS3), and John & Janet Ireland (2010 Mitsubishi Evo 10) finishing within ten seconds of each other in positions 8 to 10. Meanwhile, Thomas Dermody/John Doble impressed in their 1973 Ford RS 1600, placing 15th overall and topping the Classic class.

Matthew Gibbens/Tim Jurd dominated the Rally Sport class their 2020 Lotus Exige, securing the win by a massive margin. Peter Gandolfi/Kristian Downing brought their 2009 Skoda Octavia home in second, 26 minutes off the pace, while Ian Watson/Marc Lyell followed closely in third, just 8.8 seconds behind Gandolfi.

Top 10 Overall Results:

1. Dean Lillie/Chris Exner – 2:12:04.5

2. Jason Wright/Fiona Wright – (+1:33.8)

3. Matthew Gibbens/Tim Jurd – (+4:00.0)

4. Jonathan Moir/Brad Jones  – (+4:35.6)

5. Xavier Franklin/Jaidyn Gluskie– (+8:00.8)

6. Laura Rogers/Gavin Rogers – (9:13.2)

7. Justin Waterhouse/Adrian Bryant – (+9:22.0)

8. Llewellyn Cameron/Drew Hamilton – (+10:37.3)

9. David Thirlwall/Jackie Thirlwall – (+10:45.5)

10. John Ireland/Janet Ireland – (+10:46.8)

As the dust settles on another thrilling year for the Mt Baw Baw Sprint, it has once again proven itself as a jewel in Australia’s tarmac rally calendar.

ATR will now head into their winter break, and then the championship action continues with Round 3 at the iconic Snowy River Sprint, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Buchan in East Gippsland.

Known for its fast, flowing roads, the Snowy River Sprint is a true test with competitors facing a mix of challenging elevation changes and technical corners across two days of intense tarmac rallying.

As the battle for championship points heats up, all eyes will be on who can master this demanding course and emerge with momentum heading into the latter half of the season.