PHOTOS: Roy Meuronen Photography
James O’Malley and co-driver Jono Forrest will head to Batemans Bay with plenty to fight for when they contest the 2026 Lazer Rally of the Bay on Saturday, 25 July.
The single-day event is the third round of the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship and will provide the O’Malley Rally Team with an important opportunity to recover from a disappointing result at the previous round in Narooma.
O’Malley and Forrest completed only one competitive stage at the Narooma Forest Rally before an electrical problem forced their retirement.
The team initially suspected a fuelling issue and worked extensively throughout the day to diagnose and repair the problem. The crew put in a huge effort, checking the car and exploring every possible cause, but unfortunately they were unable to find a solution at the event.
“We had help from Insight Motorsports checking the log from our Emtron ECU. The characteristics pointed towards a failing fuel pump. Bates Motorsports sourced one from Canberra for us, and we had it in around 8 pm that night. Initially, we had thought that resolved it, but a late-night test drive had us roadside shortly after” O’Malley said.
“Knowing what we know now, it was the jiggery-pokery in that process that may have inserted the offending pin just enough to give us hope.”
Further investigation following Narooma eventually revealed that the problem was caused by a single pin releasing from the back of a connector on the fuel injection control unit. The issue has now been resolved, and the Toyota 86 is ready to return to competition.
“I’ve come to terms with it; while it was something that was ultimately fixable roadside, it’s not something anyone would have a chance of finding under pressure” O’Malley continued.
Despite completing just one stage at Narooma, the team’s time on that opening test was exceptionally strong and demonstrated that O’Malley and Forrest had the pace to challenge at the front of the two-wheel-drive field.
“We only had the chance to complete one stage, but it’s nice to know we’re only getting quicker each time we head out,” O’Malley said. “The ingredients are there for a good result; we just need to get on with it and bank a result we’re capable of so our seeding catches up,” O’Malley joked.
The Narooma retirement came at a high cost to O’Malley’s championship campaign. After failing to score points at the second round, he has dropped down the NSW Rally Championship standings and has also fallen to second place in the two-wheel-drive championship behind the Gorsts.
That leaves O’Malley and Forrest with valuable ground to make up at Batemans Bay.
“We were lucky to have a largely fault-free NSW championship season last year, so we haven’t had to claw back points before. If the roads at Batemans Bay are anything like what was on offer at Narooma, we should be well placed,” O’Malley said.
The event also provides a fitting connection between the team and the rally’s naming-rights partner, with the O’Malley Rally Team Toyota 86 equipped with Lazer lighting products.
“It’s fantastic to see Lazer supporting rallying and this event, particularly after the torrential downpour that called it off last year.”
With the Narooma problem now resolved, O’Malley, Forrest and the team will arrive in Batemans Bay focused on converting their proven pace into a strong finish and rebuilding their championship challenge.
About O’Malley Rally
The Tumut Toyota backed O’Malley Rally Team competes in the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship in a Toyota 86. Driver James O’Malley and co-driver Jono Forrest are supported by Tumut Toyota, Wall-fab, Pallister Automotive, Nanofx Coatings, Viewco Glass and Doors, omalleymade.com and Drenth Gearboxes.
