The forests surrounding Batemans Bay delivered a thrilling day of rallying as the 2026 Lazer Rally of the Bay produced fast competition, dramatic retirements, impressive comeback drives and a major change at the top of the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship standings.
Organised by the North Shore Sporting Car Club, the event hosted Round 3 of the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship, Round 3 of the NSW Clubman Rally Series and Round 3 of the East Coast Classic Rally Series for both 2WD and 4WD competitors. The rally also included the Bay Ramble and RD Cup Regularity categories.
After eight demanding forest stages covering approximately 140 competitive kilometres, Clayton Hoy and Brad Jones secured a commanding outright victory in their Mitsubishi Evo 6. Hoy established the lead on the opening stage and remained at the head of the field throughout the rally. While a number of battles unfolded behind them, Hoy and Jones delivered a measured and consistent performance to complete every stage in first place overall.
Behind the winners, the fight for the remaining podium positions provided plenty of excitement.
Jamie Luff and Brad Luff briefly slipped from second to third during the opening half of the rally, but responded strongly in their Toyota Yaris GR to reclaim the position and finish second outright.
Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley completed the outright podium in their Citroën DS3, producing another consistent performance that ultimately delivered the biggest championship reward of the weekend.
Sullens Takes Control of Championship Battle
The results from Batemans Bay had significant implications for the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship.
Early drama struck championship contenders Richie Dalton and Mac Kierans when their Toyota Yaris GR suffered front-end damage and power steering problems during Heat 1. Rather than allowing the setback to end their weekend, Dalton and Kierans rejoined the event for Heat 2 and mounted an impressive comeback. They claimed the Heat 2 victory and recovered valuable championship points from a rally that could otherwise have been extremely costly.
However, it was Sullens and Barkley who emerged as the event’s leading NSW Rally Championship crew. Their strong results across the two heats gave them the highest overall championship points haul from the round and moved them into the lead of the 2026 Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship.
While Hoy and Jones were the outright winners of the rally, Sullens and Barkley were the overall winners from a championship points perspective.
Strong Drives Throughout the Field
Bethany Cullen and Mel McMinn continued their strong season in the Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer, remaining firmly inside the leading group throughout the day before finishing fourth outright.
One of the standout drives came from James O’Malley and Jono Forrest in their Toyota 86. After disappointment at the previous round in Narooma, the pair bounced back with a composed performance on the Batemans Bay roads. O’Malley and Forrest steadily climbed through the field to finish fifth outright and were the first rear-wheel-drive crew home.
Young driver Ryley King, joined by co-driver Matthew James in the Subaru Forester, delivered another of the event’s most impressive performances. King was contesting his first pace note rally, but was competing using Fast Roadbook rather than full pace notes. Despite that disadvantage, he recorded the fourth-fastest outright time on the Black River stage, placing himself among some of the most experienced and highly regarded crews in the field.
King and James completed the rally in sixth outright, and won Bay Ramble club level event, an outstanding result that demonstrated impressive speed, confidence and maturity.
Damian Nugent and Seth Nugent were another crew to feature prominently, bringing their Mitsubishi Evo 3 home in seventh outright after a consistent run across the eight stages.
They were followed by Stuart Collison and Lance Arundel in their Subaru WRX STI Spec C, with Dennis Stanford and Luke Stanford ninth in the Subaru Impreza WRX STI RA and Miles Sandy and Nicola Hoey completing the outright top 10 in their Subaru Impreza 2000.
Podium Challenge Ends for Pedder
The rally was not without heartbreak for several of the leading crews. Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall were running third outright in their Renault Clio when a blown head gasket brought their event to an abrupt end. Pedder, more commonly seen contesting Australian Rally Championship events in faster machinery, had adapted quickly to his older Clio and was firmly in the podium battle before the mechanical failure forced the crew’s retirement.
Irish competitors Colm Murphy and Darragh Lynch also produced an impressive performance in their Subaru WRX. The pair climbed as high as fifth outright before the final stage and appeared set to record an outstanding result. Unfortunately, their strong run ended on the last test, denying them the finish their pace throughout the day had deserved.
Classic Stanza Silenced by 50-Year-Old Component
Crowd favourites Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith entertained spectators throughout the day in their Datsun Stanza, using the event to enjoy some classic rallying and gain further pace note experience. The crew reached the regroup before the final stages, but the Stanza would not restart.
Clubman Delivers Close Competition
The NSW Clubman Rally Series again showcased the depth of grassroots rallying in New South Wales, with crews tackling the same demanding stages as the outright championship contenders.
Damian Nugent and Seth Nugent guided their Mitsubishi Evo 3 to victory in the Clubman 4WD category. Their pace throughout the day also earned them an impressive seventh outright, underlining the strength of their performance against the state’s leading crews.
The Clubman 2WD honours went to Andrew Chapman and Jim Gleeson in their Toyota 86, adding another class victory to their season after another composed drive through the Batemans Bay forests.
The Clubman field once again demonstrated the pathway the series provides for emerging competitors, with close competition throughout both the 2WD and 4WD categories.
East Coast Classic Rally Series Produces Great Battles
Round 3 of the East Coast Classic Rally Series attracted another strong field of classic rally machinery, with competitors contesting both the 2WD and 4WD championships on the iconic Batemans Bay roads.
In the ECCRS 4WD category, Damian Nugent and Seth Nugent completed an outstanding weekend in their Mitsubishi Evo 3, taking the class victory ahead of Dennis Stanford and Luke Stanford in the Subaru Impreza WRX STI RA, while Miles Sandy and Nicola Hoey rounded out the podium in their Subaru Impreza 2000.
The ECCRS 2WD competition was won by Stephen Duthie and Damien Hanns in their beautifully prepared Datsun 180B SSS, continuing the model’s proud rallying heritage. Blake Stevens and Stephen Kent finished second in their Honda Civic, while Craig Stallard and Robert Price completed the podium in the ever-popular Ford Escort.
The East Coast Classic Rally Series showcases the enduring appeal of classic rally cars, with everything from Datsuns and Escorts through to older Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Evos providing a spectacular mix of machinery for competitors and spectators alike.
New Locations and Shakedown Add to the Event
The 2026 event introduced several important changes. The Bay Pavilions became the new Event Headquarters, while the Hoosier Tire Service Park, located in the car park opposite the venue, provided a central base for competitors and service crews. The new locations brought documentation, event administration and servicing into a convenient central area close to the Batemans Bay town centre.
A Friday afternoon and after-dark shakedown was also introduced, giving crews an opportunity to test their cars and make final adjustments before Saturday’s competition. Running from daylight into darkness, the shakedown offered competitors a valuable chance to test lights, review their setups and prepare for the rally’s final night stages.
The Catalina Club again played an important role in the event, serving as the Rally Social Hub and hosting the post-event presentation in the Alan Stretton Lounge.
Community and Volunteer Support
The successful running of a forest rally requires an enormous commitment from volunteers, officials, emergency personnel, event partners and the local community.
Officials worked across stage controls, road closures, spectator points, communications, regroup, service, documentation and event administration to ensure the rally could operate safely and efficiently.
The event was also supported by local businesses, accommodation providers and community organisations that welcomed competitors, crews, volunteers and visitors to Batemans Bay.
The North Shore Sporting Car Club extends its sincere thanks to every competitor, official, volunteer, sponsor, event partner, landowner, resident and spectator who contributed to the 2026 Lazer Rally of the Bay.
The support of naming rights partner Lazer High Performance Lighting, the event’s stage and service park partners, the Catalina Club, Bay Pavilions and businesses throughout the Batemans Bay region helped make the event possible.
With a dominant outright victory for Hoy and Jones, a championship-changing result for Sullens and Barkley, a Heat 2 comeback from Dalton and Kierans, and standout performances throughout the field, the 2026 event delivered another memorable chapter in the history of the Lazer Rally of the Bay.
2026 Lazer Rally of the Bay Outright Results
Clayton Hoy / Brad Jones – Mitsubishi Evo 6
Jamie Luff / Brad Luff – Toyota Yaris GR
Tony Sullens / Julia Barkley – Citroën DS3
Bethany Cullen / Mel McMinn – Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer
James O’Malley / Jono Forrest – Toyota 86
Ryley King / Matthew James – Subaru Forester
Damian Nugent / Seth Nugent – Mitsubishi Evo 3
Stuart Collison / Lance Arundel – Subaru WRX STI Spec C
Dennis Stanford / Luke Stanford – Subaru Impreza WRX STI RA
Miles Sandy / Nicola Hoey – Subaru Impreza 2000
4WD: Damian Nugent / Seth Nugent – Mitsubishi Evo 3
2WD: Andrew Chapman / Jim Gleeson – Toyota 86
East Coast Classic Rally Series Results
4WD: Damian Nugent / Seth Nugent – Mitsubishi Evo 3
2WD: Stephen Duthie / Damien Hanns – Datsun 180B SSS
Photos: Roy Meuronen Photography
