One of the most intriguing cars set to debut at the upcoming Rally of Bathurst will be the unique Subaru H6-powered rally car of Woolgoolga driver Sam Hill, who will team up with his daughter Mikayla Cooling for the event.
Originally planned to run alongside Australian rally champion Molly Taylor, Hill will instead share the car with Mikayla, creating a special father–daughter pairing for the car’s first competitive appearance.
The Rally of Bathurst will mark the competition debut of the H6-swapped Subaru, believed to be the first rally car of its kind to compete in Australia.
The project, built and developed through Woolgoolga Service Centre, replaces the traditional turbocharged Subaru flat-four engine with a naturally aspirated EZ30 3.0-litre flat-six, creating a distinctive sound and performance package rarely seen in Australian rallying.
Hill said the concept behind the car was to explore a different direction for Subaru rally builds while keeping costs accessible for competitors.
“What started as a bit of an idea has turned into something really exciting,” Hill said.
“The car began life as a Subaru RS Challenge car, but we wanted to try something a bit different with the H6 engine. It gives the car a completely different character and sound, and we’re excited to finally get it onto the stages.”
Before its rally debut, the car was put through its early paces by Molly Taylor, who conducted initial testing and shakedown runs.
The high-revving flat-six engine produces similar power to a restricted turbo production rally car while delivering a unique soundtrack rarely heard in the forests.
Hill is well known within the Australian rally community, both as a competitor and as a key figure in event organisation.
Based in Woolgoolga on the NSW Mid North Coast, Hill is the owner of Woolgoolga Service Centre, where he has developed a reputation as a Subaru specialist and motorsport enthusiast.
Away from the workshop and driver’s seat, Hill also played a major role behind the scenes of Australian rallying as the Event Director of the 2025 Quality Accounting Coffs Coast Rally, helping deliver one of the most successful editions of the event.
Hill’s rally experience extends well beyond stage driving. He has competed in major off-road events including the Sunraysia Safari, where he enjoyed success as co-driver to Australian rally star Dean Herridge, claiming victory in the event.
Now, Hill is turning his attention back to stage rallying with the debut of the Subaru H6 project.
For Mikayla Cooling, the Rally of Bathurst will also be a special moment as she joins her father in the co-driver’s seat for the first competitive outing of the car.
“This one will be pretty special,” Hill said.
“To share the first event in this car with Mikayla is something we’re really looking forward to.”
The Rally of Bathurst provides the perfect stage for the car’s first appearance, with the event’s challenging forest roads offering an ideal test for the unique Subaru build.
If the H6-powered machine performs as hoped, Hill believes it could open the door for other competitors to explore similar conversions.
“For now, we’re just excited to finally see what it can do in a rally environment,” Hill said.
The debut of the Subaru H6 is expected to draw plenty of attention from competitors and fans alike when it hits the stages at Bathurst.
