Spectacular Snowy River Sprint Delivers Tarmac Rallying at Its Best
Photography Credit: Angryman Photography
The Snowy River Sprint has delivered a spectacular weekend of tarmac rallying, with some of the most insanely beautiful weather imaginable providing the backdrop for Round Three of the Australian Tarmac Rally championship.
From Lakes Entrance through to Buchan, competitors were treated to brilliant sunshine, stunning scenery and roads that showcased exactly why this corner of Victoria is such a special place to rally.
At the sharp end of the field, Jason and Fiona Wright continued their championship campaign, taking overall victory in their 2011 Nissan R35 by 3m01s.
The current championship leaders, Michael Harding and James Thornburn, in their Subaru WRX STI, finished second overall. Their weekend was a true testament to perseverance, following a broken driveshaft and a rapid overnight trip to their workshop in Canberra to get back on the road.
Rounding out the overall podium were Mark Griffith and Neill Woolley in their Mercedes-AMG GTR. Just behind them, Justin Waterhouse and Adrian Bryant secured fourth overall in their Mitsubishi Evo X.
The event also saw strong performances across the field, with Laura and Gavin Rogers bringing their Porsche Cayman GTS home in fifth, followed by Barrie and Jan Smith in the Audi TTRS and Craig and Jasmine Haysman in their Subaru WRX STI.
As expected with a demanding tarmac rally, the Snowy River Sprint was not without its mechanical dramas, with several crews forced to retire throughout the weekend. Ben Watkins’ Subaru WRX STI, Peter Gluskie’s BMW E30 325e and Keith Morling’s Ford Mk2 Escort all suffered permanent mechanical failures early in the event.
Hugh Feggans’ Porsche 911 and Jason Killen’s Audi TTRS both went off the road during SS17, while David Thirlwall’s Audi RS3 also retired with mechanical issues on the same stage.
Further mechanical retirements included Bass/Cameron's Holden Commodore VX SS, Gibbens/Jurd’s Mitsubishi Evo X, Garwood/Sheldrick’s Subaru Impreza WRX, Mansey/Winton-Monet’s Mitsubishi Evo X RS, Balcombe/Wheeler's Subaru WRX STI and Chora/Ferrante’s Subaru WRX STI.
Jonathan Moir and Brad Jones also endured mechanical trouble in their Ford Mk2 Escort but were able to rejoin before ultimately retiring later in the event.
John Stanton and Phil Blake’s Porsche 924 was another notable story, rejoining after an earlier retirement and going on to complete the event. These challenges highlighted the demanding nature of the Snowy River roads and the commitment required from crews, service teams and officials to keep the cars moving.
Beyond the competition, the Snowy River Sprint was a celebration of everything that makes tarmac rallying so special: incredible roads, beautiful regional communities, passionate competitors and the people who make the event possible.
The weather could not have been better, with clear skies and sunshine creating an unforgettable atmosphere throughout the weekend. From the opening activities in Lakes Entrance to the stages around Buchan, it was a reminder of just how lucky we are to be able to bring these events to some of Victoria’s most spectacular locations.
The Snowy River Sprint marks another successful chapter in the 2026 Australian Tarmac Rally Championship, but there is little time to rest.
The championship now looks ahead to the Great Tarmac Rally, taking place from 23–25 October 2026.
Australian Tarmac Rally’s first-ever three-day event will bring competitors another big weekend of challenging roads and over 450 competitive kilometres.
Entry applications are set to close on Friday, 2 October.
Get the car ready, get your mates together and get your entry in because this is one weekend you won’t want to miss.
