N SW two-wheel-drive championship leaders James O’Malley and co-driver Jono Forrest are preparing to take on some of Australia’s best rally competitors when they contest this weekend’s Toyota Gazoo Racing Narooma Forest Rally.

The Tumut Toyota-backed crew head into Round 2 of the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship full of confidence after an impressive performance at the season-opening Bathurst Rally, where they finished sixth outright and claimed the honours as the event’s leading two-wheel-drive crew.

While maintaining their focus on the NSW Rally Championship battle, O’Malley and Forrest have elected to contest the full Australian Rally Championship itinerary at Narooma. The decision reflects the team’s desire to measure themselves against the country’s best competitors and continue developing both crew and car at the highest level.

“We want to challenge ourselves against the strongest competition available,” said O’Malley. “The ARC field gives us the opportunity to see where we stand against some of the best rally teams in Australia, and that’s a challenge we’re looking forward to.”

The team’s Toyota 86 heads to Narooma largely unchanged since Bathurst. The most significant upgrade to the car came prior to the opening round with the installation of a sequential gearbox, which immediately delivered improved performance and proved a major factor in the team’s strong result.

Following Bathurst, the focus has been on preparation rather than development, with the team concentrating on reliability and ensuring the car is ready for the demanding conditions expected in the forests around Narooma.

As the first two-wheel-drive crew on the Narooma entry list and current leaders of the NSW 2WD Championship, O’Malley and Forrest will be aiming to strengthen their championship position while continuing to demonstrate the capability of the Toyota 86 against more powerful four-wheel-drive machinery.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing Narooma Forest Rally takes place on 27-28 June and forms Round 2 of the 2026 Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship.