Young gun Jackson Long is ready to take on one of his biggest tests yet as the 2025 Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland roars into Gympie this weekend. Currently leading the ARC Junior Cup with 190 points, Long is eyeing another strong result to extend his advantage over closest rival Jaidyn Gluskie, who sits on 90 points.
After taking maximum points at the Forest Rally in Western Australia and his strong performance with a heat win at the Rally of Canberra, Long is in fine form and heads to Queensland determined to keep the momentum going.
“We’ll be hoping to take the front foot on the weekend and lead the Junior Challenge,” Jackson said. “But we’re also realistic and we expect a big challenge from Jaidyn. It’s too early to call just yet, but we’ll be doing everything we can to come away with the most points we can.”
This weekend’s event marks a crucial mid-season round of the Bosch Motorsport Australian Rally Championship, featuring 14 demanding stages totalling 193km of competitive action. The iconic “Wheels on Mary” street party will again bring the excitement of rallying to the heart of Gympie, kicking off the event in style on Friday night.
Long and Long at Round 1 in Canberra
Photo Credit: Roy Meuronen Photography
Long and Long at Round 1 in Canberra
Photo Credit: Roy Meuronen Photography
Long’s Subaru is fully prepped, and he’s already on his way to Queensland to participate in a number of media events in the lead-up to the rally. Once again, he’ll be joined in the car by his father, Damien Long, a seasoned rally veteran with 42 years of experience.
“Having Dad alongside me is a massive asset,” Jackson said. “He brings so much knowledge and calmness to the car. We work well as a team and we’re both really focused on a strong result this weekend.”
In a hint of more excitement to come, Jackson teased that there’s big news on the horizon.
“We have some really exciting news to come, and we’ll be announcing that over the weekend. I can’t wait to share with everyone what that is, but for now we’re focusing on the challenge of the weekend ahead.”
With a strong performance in Gympie, Jackson could open up an enviable lead in the ARC Junior Cup. A win would be a huge milestone in what’s already shaping up to be a breakout season for the young talent.
