Championship Battle Heats Up in the Barossa: Price vs Brinkman Set for Showdown

The gravel roads of the iconic Barossa Valley are set to rumble once again as the 2025 MSS Safety Rally Barossa brings South Australia’s premier gravel competitors together for Round 2 of the South Australian Rally Championship (SARC).

After a thrilling season opener at the Shannons Rally SA – Rally of the Heartland, all eyes now turn to the vineyards and valleys of Rowland Flat, where an epic battle is brewing. This night–day format rally, known for its mix of speed, scenery, and stage variety, kicks off with three night stages on Saturday, followed by eight competitive stages on Sunday, totalling around 140km of action-packed gravel.

Leading the charge is none other than Toby Price, Australia’s dual Dakar champion, who stunned many by storming to victory in both heats of Heartland, giving him the perfect points haul heading into Round 2. Teaming up again with co-driver Holly Kilbride, Toby will once again pilot the Kickass Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, a weapon that proved its pace and reliability over the long and brutal stages of Burra.

Toby’s entry into the SA Rally Championship has not only lifted the profile of the series but set a high benchmark that others will be aiming to beat.

But if anyone can challenge the reigning leader, it’s Glenn Brinkman, who returns to the SARC after heartbreak at Heartland. Despite a strong start, gearbox issues forced the Queenslander out of contention early. Now, with repairs complete and co-driver Scott Beckwith back alongside him, Brinkman is ready to mount a serious charge in his rebuilt Ford Escort Cosworth RS, a machine that turns heads just as much as it delivers performance.

Glenn, a multi-time Queensland champion and a Dakar veteran himself, will be hungry for redemption, and a win here could put him right back in championship contention.

But the contenders keep coming! The front end of the field is stacked. Declan Dwyer and Zoe Dwyer are back in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, coming off a strong second place at Heartland. The Father/Daughter pairing has form on South Australian roads and won’t be far off the pace.

Guy Tyler and Matt Dillon, always fan favourites, are back in the mighty Mitsubishi Magna, a car that defies expectation with its stage-winning pace. Guy’s lightning-fast runs at Heartland, before mechanical gremlins struck, showed he has what it takes to fight for podiums.

Rounding out the top order, Michael Mohr and Casey Mohr return in their reliable Subaru WRX STI, while Tyson and Kim Brown, Jaxon and Cooper Rippon, and Matt Caldwell and Taylah Murphy also bring fast, capable machinery to the fight.

The SARC field is bolstered further by local favourites like Neil Jamieson (Ford Escort MK2), Bruce Field (Alfa Romeo), and Greg Park (Peugeot 504), adding a touch of classic rallying flavour to the mix. Plus the ever popular Porsche 911 of Zach Sharath Hedge and Caleb Ash.

All rally roads lead to Vinarchy Winemakers and with entries capped at 45, a healthy mix of modern, classic, regularity and invitational entries have already been confirmed, the Service Park opposite Vinarchy Winemakers will be buzzing with activity come August 2.
Spectators can expect breathtaking night action under rally car lights, followed by a full day of high-speed competition across some of the best gravel rally roads in the country.

Toby Price may have struck first, but can he hold off the returning Glenn Brinkman and a field of hungry challengers? We’ll find out in the Barossa.