The 2025 Techworkz Automotive Stages and Horizon Apartments Narooma Forest Rally will welcome one of Australia’s brightest rally teams, with current FIA Junior World Rally Championship leaders Taylor Gill and Daniel Brkic confirmed to compete on September 13.
In a major coup for local fans, Gill and Brkic will return to Australian gravel for the first time in several years, driving Richie Dalton’s Shamrock Motorsport Toyota GR Yaris AP4.
For Gill, the event marks a special homecoming. His first taste of state-level rallying came in 2020 at the Rally of the Bay while still on his learner’s permit, and with many of Narooma’s stages sharing the same character as Batemans Bay, it’s a fitting return to where his rally career began.
“We are really looking forward to coming back for the Narooma Rally,” Gill said. “It’s a big thanks to Richie Dalton for giving us the opportunity and trust to drive his car in the event and get some additional seat time.
“It’ll be a great chance for Dan and I to compete in an AP4 car as we obviously have an eye on the future and stepping up the categories is our goal. Whilst it’s not a Rally2 car, it’s very similar.
“I haven’t done a rally in Australia for a couple of years now, so it’ll be a nice challenge, but I’m looking forward to getting back onto some awesome South Coast stages as that’s where my rally career kicked off back in 2020.
“The goal for the rally is to simply enjoy it, learn, and take all the experience. The result will be what it will be.”
Gill and Brkic have been in sensational form internationally in 2025, leading the Junior WRC standings after a series of standout performances on the world stage. Their Narooma appearance will not only provide valuable seat time between European rounds, but also give local fans a rare chance to see the duo at full speed.
Dalton, a four-time winner of the Rally of the Bay and a front-running NSW Rally Championship competitor, has been a long-time supporter of Gill’s overseas campaign.
“Taylor is one of the most talented young drivers we’ve seen come through in years, and Daniel is a top-class co-driver,” Dalton said. “Giving them the chance to drive the Yaris AP4 at Narooma is a privilege, and I can’t wait to see what they can do with it on these roads.
“This car has a strong history in NSW rallying. It’s quick, competitive, and capable of winning at the highest level. The Narooma stages will be a great test of their skills, with a mix of fast, flowing sections and tricky technical bits.
“I honestly think Taylor is the best chance Australia has got for a future World Rally Champion. But talent alone isn’t enough, he needs serious backing from Australian businesses and corporations to keep climbing. The boy is a real talent, and he needs big investment to take him to the next level. That’s why I’m supporting him, and I want others to do the same.
“When he’s not competing in Europe, he’s based in Finland, working in a local workshop on rally cars and all sorts of odd jobs to keep the dream alive. That sort of commitment deserves recognition and support.”
The Narooma Forest Rally is the penultimate round of both the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship and the East Coast Classic Rally Series (2WD & 4WD). Crews will tackle nine demanding stages totalling 175 competitive kilometres.
