2026 Narooma Forest Rally – Live Blog

🕒 Update at 19:15 – 29.06.26

Gotta love a proper champagne spray shot from the Narooma podium 🍾💦

Congrats to the top three NSWRC crews yesterday at Narooma. Fast roads, technical forests, and now the small matter of getting that champagne smell out of the race suits.

That is rallying. 👌

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRC #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 16:18 – 28.06.26

Winners are grinners at Narooma 😄🏆

Round 2 of the NSW season delivered the smiles on the podium, with Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith taking the win, Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley finishing second, and Bethany Cullen and Mel McMinn rounding out the top three.

A handy haul for Sullens in the NSW title race too, with Narooma giving plenty of crews a proper workout in those fast, technical forests.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW #Redhead

🕒 Update at 15:13 – 28.06.26

Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith have cleaned up at Narooma 👏

Not only did the pair take out the NSW Rally Championship component of the Narooma Forest Rally, they also bagged the ARC Wolf Sports Cup as well. Not a bad weekend’s work in the fast and technical forests 🌲💨🍾

Podium smiles say it all.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRallyChampionship #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #Redhead

🕒 Update at 15:09 – 28.06.26

Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley did it the hard way at Narooma 👏

After battling a whole list of issues across the weekend, the crew still muscled their way onto the second step of the podium. Tough, tidy and very NSW Championship-relevant.

With Sullens sitting third in the standings coming in, that is a seriously handy result from a fast and technical Narooma Forest Rally. Dust, drama and a trophy. Not a bad weekend’s work 😅

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 15:04 – 28.06.26

Dennis Stanford and Luke Stanford gave the old Subaru a proper workout at Narooma 💨

A great weekend for the crew with 2nd in Clubman and what looks like 5th outright in the NSWRC. Not a bad way to tackle those fast and technical forests on a Sunday 👏

Plenty of commitment, plenty of dust, and plenty of reward.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 14:44 – 28.06.26

A proper Narooma moment for Bethany Cullen and Mel McMinn 👏

With the Evo throwing a huge wall of dust behind them, Cullen and McMinn nailed third in Heat 2 and third outright in the NSWRC. A result that’s been a long time coming, and you’d struggle to find anyone in the forests not smiling about this one ❤️

Fast, technical, dusty and finally rewarded. That’s rallying.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRallyChampionship #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 14:27 – 28.06.26

After dramas on SS1 yesterday, Richie Dalton and Mac Kierans have absolutely pulled it out of the bag at Narooma 💪

This shot from SS12 says it all. Flat out, committed, and rewarded with the heat win. Huge result for the NSW championship leaders as they keep themselves right in the fight.

Narooma bites, but this crew bit back. Bring on Batemans Bay 👀

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRallyChampionship #ShamrockHaulage #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 14:13 – 28.06.26

Dust, commitment, and a proper weekend-long fight at Narooma 💥

Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith have come out on top overall after a gruelling battle through the fast and technical forests. They might not have taken Heat 2, but the rally win is what goes in the book 👌

We’re still waiting on Richie Dalton and Mac Kierans, who were leading Heat 2 at the start of the previous stage. Rally being rally, it never reads the script.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #OnTheDirt #Redhead #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 12:48 – 28.06.26

Consistency is keeping Bethany Cullen and Mel McMinn right in the hunt at Narooma 👊

Caught here in SS8, Cullen has the Evo charging hard and the payoff is big. The crew sits fourth outright overall, just 2.7 seconds behind Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley. That final podium spot is very much up for grabs 🔥

In forests this fast and technical, tidy can be just as deadly as spectacular. Game on.

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #NSWRallyChampionship

🕒 Update at 12:40 – 28.06.26

We’ve had plenty of focus on the heat results at Narooma, but don’t forget there’s an outright rally battle brewing too 👀

After SS9, Redhead and Winwood-Smith have put a proper gap on the field, leading outright at 1:03:58.8. Behind them, the fight for the rest of the top five is where it gets tasty 🌲💨

Hurley sits second, Sullens is third, Cullen is fourth, and Sprenger rounds out the top five. And how close is that battle for the podium? Sullens and Cullen are separated by just 2.7 seconds. That is absolutely nothing in these fast, technical Narooma forests.

With Sullens already third in the NSW Championship, this is a handy spot to be in if he wants to make this weekend count.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRC #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #Redhead

🕒 Update at 12:35 – 28.06.26

Championship leaders Richie Dalton and Mac Kierans aren’t wasting a minute at Narooma 👀

Between loops, the pair are back on the onboard and into the notes, chasing every little refinement before the final run of stages. In forests this fast and technical, the homework matters just as much as the horsepower 📓💻

That’s rally life. No lounging around, just pause, rewind, discuss, repeat 😅

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #ShamrockHaulageNSWRC #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 12:30 – 28.06.26

Tough break for Damian and Seth Nugent at Narooma 😞

Yesterday’s Clubman winners struck clutch issues this morning, and unfortunately there was no quick fix in time for the final loop. So it’s onto the trailer for the Nugents, with focus already shifting to the next NSW Clubman Rally Series round at Batemans Bay.

That’s rally. One day you’re spraying gravel, the next day you’re loading up early.

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #NSWClubman #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 11:30 – 28.06.26

Missing in action at Narooma this morning… found him 😂🚽

Josh Redhead copped a bit of service crew mischief and ended up temporarily parked in the port-a-loo before the day got rolling. Not the ideal pre-stage prep, but very rally service park behaviour 😅

Now that Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith have been located, it is back to business in the fast and technical NSW forests.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #JoshRedhead #RallyLife

🕒 Update at 11:28 – 28.06.26

NSWRC update from Narooma after SS9 and Richie Dalton is still the benchmark with Josh Redhead right behind 👊

One more loop to go this afternoon, and with Narooma’s fast and technical roads still biting, this one is far from done 🌲💨

#NSWRC #NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #ShamrockNSWRC

🕒 Update at 11:08 – 28.06.26

Update from SS8 at Narooma: Dean Ridge and Muireann Hayes have had a moment and are parked up on the side of the road with some front-end damage. The good news, the crew is OK and safely off the road 👍

They limped past our camera team, but it looks like the Narooma forests have bitten back again. Fast and technical doing fast and technical things 😬🌲

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 10:50 – 28.06.26

Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley in SS8 at Narooma, still pushing on after a rough start to the stage 💨

We’re told Tony started late, then had a spin on live TV and dropped about 15 seconds just before this shot. Not exactly the ideal way to tackle these fast, technical forests… but it sure makes for a proper rally photo 📺🌲

With Sullens sitting third in the NSW Championship coming in, Narooma is a big one in the title fight.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #ShamrockHaulageNSWRC #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 10:40 – 28.06.26

Tom Clarke and Brad Jones were certainly making Narooma work for it on Sunday morning 😅

A properly wild ride through the forest for the NSW Championship contender, with a bit of bunting collected along the way as a souvenir. Fast, technical and not giving an inch, which is exactly what Narooma is all about 🌲💨

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRallyChampionship #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 10:37 – 28.06.26

Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith absolutely sending it through the morning stages at Narooma 💨🌲

But the NSW fight is tightening up. As the first state crews clear SS8, Richie Dalton has moved into the Heat 2 lead, so Redhead might have a proper scrap on his hands today. Just the way we like it.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #Redhead

🕒 Update at 10:29 – 28.06.26

SS7 at Narooma and the NSW fight is very much alive 👀

Josh Redhead still holds the lead after the first stage of Heat 2, but Richie Dalton has closed back in and sits just 6.8 seconds behind. Game on. 🔥

This one is shaping up nicely, folks. #NaroomaForestRally #NSWRC #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #ShamrockNSWRC

🕒 Update at 09:44 – 28.06.26

First NSW crews through SS7 at Narooma and Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith have wasted no time getting stuck in 👀💨

The early NSW leaderboard shows Redhead on top from Tom Clarke and Brad Jones, with Mal Hurley and Reagan Hurley next up. Kristian Sprenger and Jarrad Vanderhore are also on the board.

Interesting one here, Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley are listed, but no time showing yet, and we’re still waiting for championship leader Richie Dalton and Mac Kierans to appear with car 23. So yep, a few more NSW stories still to unfold in these fast, technical forests.

Plenty happening already at Narooma 🌲

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRC #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #ShamrockHaulageNSWRC

🕒 Update at 08:45 – 28.06.26

The South Coast is turning it on again 🌊☀️

Another glorious morning in Narooma as crews head for the forests for Day 2 of the Narooma Rally, with the first stage due to fire up from around 9am.

Fast, technical roads ahead and plenty still to play for in the NSW field. Stand by, the action is about to start… and the scenery won’t be the slowest thing out there for long 😄

#NaroomaRally #NSWRally #OnTheDirt #ShamrockNSW #Redhead

🕒 Update at 19:05 – 27.06.26

A top effort from all the Clubman crews at Narooma 👏🍾

This is what the NSW Clubman Rally Series is all about. Good roads, good people, and plenty of friendship and camaraderie in service and on the stages. No matter your age or experience, there’s a spot for you in this paddock and that’s what makes it such a ripper way to go rallying.

Congrats to the Clubman winners and to every crew that took on Saturday’s fast and technical forest stages. You’ve got to love a series where the competition is strong and the smiles are just as big 😄

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #ClubmanRallySeries #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 18:15 – 27.06.26

The Gorsts looking absolutely mega in the Narooma forests 💛💨 Car 35 serving up proper sideways old-school rally vibes.

Big shoutout to Roy Meuronen Photography for all the cracking shots today and right across the weekend 📸 Do yourself a favour and check out @roymeuronenphotography to grab your pics.

Fast, technical roads and plenty of NSW talent on the job. Narooma never really does boring, does it?

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #NSWRallyChampionship #RoyMeuronenPhotography

🕒 Update at 18:05 – 27.06.26

📍Clubman crews, take note for Narooma!

The NSW Clubman presentation has a new home and it’s now at Club Narooma, in the same room as drivers briefing, at 6.45.

Nice and easy. Less hunting around, more talking stages, notes and who brought the mud home 😄

With Clubman only running on Saturday at Narooma, make sure you’re in the right place and on time.

#RallyNSW #NaroomaForestRally #NSWClubman #NSWRallyChampionship

🕒 Update at 17:10 – 27.06.26

Clubman crews, don’t disappear into the night just yet 👀🏁

After your Saturday stint at Narooma, make sure you hang around for the NSW Clubman Presentation at 6:45pm in the service park at Galvaniize Rally Central.

With Narooma’s forests serving up the usual mix of fast and technical roads, you’ll have earned it. Dust off, grab the team, and be there 🍻

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #NSWClubman #ShamrockHaulageNSWRC

🕒 Update at 16:11 – 27.06.26

Provisional NSW Clubman Rally Series results are in from Narooma and Damian Nugent takes the win with Seth Nugent alongside after a sharp run through the fast, technical forests 👏🌲

Andrew Chapman and Jim Gleeson were the first 2WD crew home in 4th outright, while Dennis Stanford and Luke Stanford pushed Nugent hard to finish just 14.3 seconds back.

Also in the mix were Blake Stevens and Stephen Kent in 5th, with Robert and Joanne Gorst 6th in the Datsun. Proper Clubman stuff at Narooma, plenty of commitment and no shortage of stories in the service park 😄

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWCRS #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 15:51 – 27.06.26

Heat 1 is nearly in the books at Narooma for the NSWRC, with just a few crews still to clear the final stage 👀

Up front, Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith have been simply untouchable all day, leading the field at SS6 in the Mitsubishi. Proper statement drive 🔥

Behind them, Dean Ridge sits second and Tony Sullens is third, with Sullens making the most of a big NSW championship opportunity this weekend. Plenty still happening through the top 8 too, with Hurley, Cullen, Sprenger, Nugent and Stanford all in the mix.

Fast, technical forests and no room for passengers. Just how we like Narooma 😅

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRC #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #Redhead

🕒 Update at 15:05 – 27.06.26

Narooma is doing Narooma things, fast, technical and shuffling the order nicely 👀

After SS5 in the NSWRC field, Josh Redhead still holds the lead, but Dean Ridge has climbed into second. Tony Sullens sits third and with a few of the championship front-runners not entered this weekend, this is a handy chance to bag some serious NSW points.

One stage left in Heat 1, so no one will be exhaling just yet 😅

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRC #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #JoshRedhead

🕒 Update at 15:01 – 27.06.26

It is absolutely game on in the NSW Clubman Rally Series at Narooma 👀🌲

After SS5, Damian Nugent leads Dennis Stanford by just 7.7 seconds heading into the final stage of the Clubman event. That is not enough to relax, breathe easy, or even blink properly in these forests.

One stage to go. Plenty still to fight for at Narooma 🔥

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWCRS #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #NSWRallying

🕒 Update at 14:44 – 27.06.26

Damian Nugent and Seth Nugent were flying on SS4 at Narooma, and the pressure is well and truly on in the NSW Clubman Rally Series 👀💨

With the Clubman crews only tackling Saturday, every stage matters, and Nugent has now moved past Stanford for the series lead. No time for sightseeing in these fast, technical forests.

Game on for the final stages of the series 🏁

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #ClubmanRallySeries #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 14:26 – 27.06.26

Good to see Anthony McVeigh and Jason Browne back in the fight at Narooma 💪

After a problem earlier this morning saw the crew miss a stage, the mighty Honda Civic was back on song in SS4, throwing up plenty of dirt and making the most of these fast, technical NSW forest roads. Sometimes half the battle is just getting back out there 😅

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #NSWRallyChampionship

🕒 Update at 14:21 – 27.06.26

Clubman crews always find a way to keep things interesting 😄

John Sparkes and Toby Goldburg putting on a show through SS4 at Narooma, with the boot lid popped for what we can only assume was a handy little aero upgrade. Dusty, committed, and very NSW rally.

With Clubman teams tackling Saturday only, Narooma’s fast and technical forests should make for a cracking hit-out on the dirt 👊🌲

#RallyNSW #NaroomaForestRally #OnTheDirt #NSWRally #ClubmanRally

🕒 Update at 14:15 – 27.06.26

Drama at Narooma on SS5 😬

Tom Clarke and Brad Jones were the big no-show through Spaghetti Western 2, with the crew reporting they’re parked up just after the spectator point with a suspected fuel pump failure. Lost fuel intake, car stopped, and that was that. Rallying can be a cruel old game.

The good news? They’re heading back to service for a change and planning to restart tomorrow for Heat 2 💪

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRC #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 14:10 – 27.06.26

Dust on, elbows up 💨

After SS3 at Narooma, Andrew Chapman and Jim Gleeson were leading the 2WD Clubman field, and this shot from SS4 shows exactly why. Absolutely sending it through the fast, technical forests with a dust trail big enough to need its own entry list 😄

With the Clubman crews tackling Saturday only, every stage counts at Narooma.

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #NSWRallyChampionship

🕒 Update at 13:58 – 27.06.26

Daniel Mc Aloon and Patrick Miskely were certainly not short on commitment in SS4 at Narooma today 👀🔥

The blue Escort was putting on a proper show in the forest, and word is they gave the spectators a bit of extra entertainment with an off at one of the viewing points this morning 😅

Did anyone catch it? Drop your video below if you did 👇

Fast, technical Narooma forest roads doing Narooma forest road things.

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #NSWRallyChampionship

🕒 Update at 13:30 – 27.06.26

Tom Clarke and Brad Jones are making the most of the opening loop at Narooma 👀

After SS4, Tony Sullens’ dramas have opened the door and Clarke has moved ahead in the NSW fight. In forests this fast and technical, you take the breaks when they come and hang on tight.

Game on for the championship contenders now 🚗💨

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #NSWRallyChampionship

🕒 Update at 13:16 – 27.06.26

Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley looking properly committed on SS4 at Narooma 😮‍💨💨

Word around the service park is Tony may be battling car dramas, with more on that to come in an interview soon. Not ideal when Narooma’s fast and technical forests are asking plenty of everyone.

With Sullens sitting 3rd in the NSW Rally Championship and a couple of rivals not entered, this weekend could be a big one for the points if the car plays nice.

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #NSWRallyChampionship #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 13:13 – 27.06.26

Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith looking properly at home through SS4 at Narooma 🚗💨

Clean, committed and carrying plenty of speed on roads that don’t give you much time to relax. With the fast and technical forests serving up 12 stages across the weekend, the NSW field is in for a serious workout.

Narooma could be a big one for Tony Sullens and Tom Clarke in the championship fight too 👀

#RallyNSW #NaroomaRally #OnTheDirt #NSWRallyChampionship

🕒 Update at 12:43 – 27.06.26

Regroup scenes at Narooma 👀

The NSW field is lined up and waiting to head back out for the afternoon repeated loop of stages. Plenty of cars, plenty of chat, and not much patience left once the helmets go back on 😄🌲

With the Narooma forests serving up that fast and technical mix, it won’t be long before the action fires up again. Big weekend too for the NSW Championship contenders, with Tony Sullens and Tom Clarke both looking to make this one count.

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #NSWRallyChampionship #OnTheDirt #Redhead

🕒 Update at 12:38 – 27.06.26

Busy service park scenes at Narooma 👀🔧

The O’Malley Rally team is hard at work diagnosing a fault in the Toyota 86, with the fuel pump looking like the likely culprit. The good news? A new pump is on the way from Neal Bates Motorsport in Canberra, so the plan is to get James O’Malley and Jono Forrest back in the fight tomorrow.

That is rallying. Flat out in the forests, flat out under the awning too. 😅

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #OmalleyRally

🕒 Update at 12:26 – 27.06.26

Mal and Reagan Hurley are giving the Subaru WRX a proper workout at Narooma today 💨🌲

The Hurley crew have charged up into fifth outright, and with three stages still to run, there’s still time to keep climbing. In these fast and technical forests, nothing comes easy… except maybe the dust 😅

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #SubaruWRX

🕒 Update at 11:45 – 27.06.26

Morning loop done and everyone is through at Narooma 🌲💨

After SS3 it’s Redhead on top from Sullens and Clarke, with Ridge sitting fourth. Hurley and Cullen round out the top six.

There’ve already been a few dramas in the forest, because of course there have been… it’s Narooma 😅 We’ll have some interviews for you soon.

Keep checking Chrissport for full results and updates as the day rolls on.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #ShamrockHaulageNSWRC #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 11:08 – 27.06.26

NSW crews are right in the fight after SS3 at Narooma 👊

Great to see Josh Redhead leading the NSW charge in the ARC standings in 5th outright, with Tony Sullens 6th, Tom Clarke 7th and Mal Hurley 10th. That is a seriously handy NSW presence inside the top 10 🔥

With Sullens and Clarke both chasing valuable NSW Championship points this weekend, Narooma is already delivering the goods. Fast, technical forests and our locals are giving it a proper shake. Love to see it 🌲💨

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #AustralianRallyChampionship

🕒 Update at 10:57 – 27.06.26

Great to see Bethany Cullen and Mel McMinn back out in the forests at Narooma after that early Bathurst DNF 👏

Car 27 is looking right at home on the dirt, kicking up plenty of Narooma dust through these fast, technical roads. Best of luck to the crew this weekend. A clean run would be a very nice way to get the NSW campaign rolling again 🚗💨

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #NSWRallyChampionship

🕒 Update at 10:50 – 27.06.26

Dean Ridge and Muireann Hayes looking sharp early at Narooma 👌

The yellow Fiesta was clean and committed on SS1, and after SS2 the crew sits fourth overall in the NSW fight. No drama, no fuss, just proper forest rallying with a healthy dust trail for proof 🌲💨

They’re heading into SS3 now, so let’s see what the next split says. Narooma doesn’t give away time for free.

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #NSWRallyChampionship #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 10:46 – 27.06.26

Dennis and Luke Stanford are making plenty of noise at Narooma, and not just from that Subaru 👀💨

After SS2, the Stanford crew are leading the Clubman Rally Series field and sitting 8th outright in the NSW Rally Championship pack. On these fast, technical Narooma roads, that is a tidy start to the weekend.

Clubman only runs on Saturday, so they are making their shot count early. 🔥

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #NSWRC #OnTheDirt #ClubmanRallySeries

🕒 Update at 10:40 – 27.06.26

Refresh. Refresh. Refresh. SS3 at Narooma finally lands and Tony Sullens / Julia Barkley have struck back 👀

Sullens was quickest on Even Stephens 1 with a 9:15.3, taking 2.5 seconds out of Josh Redhead / Ray Winwood-Smith, while Redhead still holds the outright lead after the stage.

Tom Clarke / Brad Jones are right there in third on the stage and overall, which is exactly the sort of Narooma charge that could help the NSW championship picture. With Richie Dalton not here, this is a handy chance for Sullens and Clarke to bank some solid points.

These forests are fast, technical, and clearly not giving anyone a quiet Saturday 😅

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRC #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #Redhead

🕒 Update at 10:26 – 27.06.26

Clubman is properly underway at Narooma and after SS2 it’s Dennis Stanford and Luke Stanford setting the pace 🚀

The Subaru crew lead NSWCRS on 15:03.7, with Damian Nugent and Seth Nugent 23.5 seconds back in second. Andrew Chapman and J. Gleeson hold third outright and top 2WD after two stages.

Also inside the early mix are Hudson, McAloon and Robert Gorst with Joanne Gorst as the Saturday-only crews get stuck into these fast, technical forests. Plenty of rally still to come, but the Stanfords have fired the first shot 👊

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #NSWCRS #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 10:15 – 27.06.26

Not the sight we wanted to see at Narooma 😬

James O’Malley and Jono Forrest are parked up on the side of the road after the car went into limp mode around 3km after the finish of SS1, following a strong time on the stage.

They’re now waiting to get the car back to service and hopefully rejoin. In a NSW championship round where every point matters, that is cruel luck for the crew.

Narooma’s fast, technical forests giveth… and sometimes they throw a dashboard light at you.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #ShamrockHaulageNSWRC

🕒 Update at 10:11 – 27.06.26

NSWRC after SS2 at Narooma and it is Redhead and Winwood-Smith setting the early pace in the Mitsubishi with a 13:14.5 👀

Clarke and Jones sit second at +13.2, with Sullens and Barkley third at +18.9. That is a handy start for two crews with a real chance to make ground in the NSW championship this weekend.

Ridge and Hayes are fourth, Hurley and Hurley fifth, and Cullen and McMinn sixth after the opening two stages.

Big talking point already, Dalton and O’Malley are both out of the results at this stage, but both are hoping to rejoin. Narooma not mucking around early 😬🌲

#NSWRC #NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #ShamrockHaulageNSWRC

🕒 Update at 09:58 – 27.06.26

James O’Malley and Jono Forrest wasting absolutely no time at Narooma 🚗💨

The little Toyota 86 was well and truly thrown into the corner on SS1, and the payoff was a strong start with first two wheel drive and a spot inside the top 10. On a rally where NSW championship points are very much up for grabs, that is the kind of opening you want.

Plenty of commitment here. Plenty of dirt too 😄

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #OnTheDirt #Toyota86 #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 09:54 – 27.06.26

SS1 done at Narooma and Redhead has come out swinging 🚀

With most of the field now through the opening stage, Josh Redhead leads the NSWRC pack in 7:36.0, ahead of Tom Clarke at 7:45.6 and Tony Sullens at 7:49.2.

Also right in the mix early are Dean Ridge, Bethany Cullen, Mal Hurley and James O’Malley as the fast and technical Narooma forests start sorting everyone out. Still a long way to go yet, but SS1 has definitely woken the field up 😅

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRC #ShamrockNSWRC #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 09:43 – 27.06.26

Richie Dalton and Mac Kierans on the SS1 start line at Narooma, looking ready to get stuck into the fast and technical forests.

But the NSW championship leaders’ day turned ugly just 6km in 😬 A broken prop shaft took out the power steering and sparked a small fire, which the crew quickly knocked over.

Not the kind of hot start anyone orders at Narooma. We’re waiting to hear if Dalton and Kierans can rejoin.

With Darren Sweeney and Riley Walters not entered, this round could still have a big say in the NSW title fight.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #ShamrockHaulageNSWRC #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 09:30 – 27.06.26

Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley were looking sharp on SS1 this morning at Narooma 👌

The Peugeot was hustling through the forest, and with a few improvements to the car, this crew could be one to watch as the day rolls on. With a handy chance to make up ground in the NSW Championship, Sullens will be keen to keep the pressure on. Dust up, elbows out, job on 🚗💨

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #NSWRallyChampionship #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 09:08 – 27.06.26

SS1 is on the board at Narooma and among the top NSW crews in the ARC field, Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith have come out swinging 💨

Redhead leads the NSW names after the opener in 7:36.0, with Tom Clarke and Brad Jones 9.6 seconds back, and Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley a further 3.6 behind that.

Also in the early mix are Mal Hurley and Reagan Hurley, with Kristian Sprenger and Jarrad Vanderhore rounding out the visible NSW top five.

Plenty more rally to come yet though… and don’t forget NSW championship leader Richie Dalton is still to start. Game on 👀

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRC #RallyNSW #OnTheDirt #Redhead

🕒 Update at 08:50 – 27.06.26

First of our NSW crews are charging into SS1 at Narooma, and Josh Redhead with Ray Winwood-Smith are looking right at home in the crisp, cool forest air 👌🌲💨

Fast, technical roads and a proper winter morning. Pretty much perfect rally conditions if you ask us.

Big weekend ahead in the NSW Championship, and Redhead has wasted no time getting stuck in.

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #OnTheDirt #JoshRedhead #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 07:51 – 27.06.26

Narooma is turning it on this morning ☀️🌊

If the forests look half as good as the beach, we are in for a cracking rally day. Fast, technical roads and plenty on the line in the NSW championship battle, with Dalton leading and Sullens and Clarke both well placed to make this one count.

Big field, beautiful weather, rally cars in the forest. Hard to argue with that 😎

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #ShamrockHaulageNSWRC #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 21:59 – 26.06.26

Anthony McVeigh and Jason Browne roll into Narooma with the thumbs-up, and they’re part of a strong NSW Clubman Rally Series contingent this weekend 👍🌲

There are 8 Clubman teams entered for Narooma, with their battle all wrapped up over Saturday’s 6 stages. So by the end of tomorrow, we’ll know who’s taking the Clubman win home.

Fast forests, technical roads, one-day dash for Clubman. Nice and simple… apart from the driving bit 😅

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #NSWClubman #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 21:43 – 26.06.26

Narooma is properly underway 👌

The Toyota Gazoo Racing Narooma Forest Rally kicked off tonight with the rally show on the foreshore, and it gave the locals plenty to look at. A line-up of rally cars by the water is not your everyday Narooma postcard, but we reckon it works pretty well 😄

Now the talking stops and the helmets go on. SS1 starts at 8:30am tomorrow as the NSW field heads into forests that are fast, technical, and never short on drama.

With Richie Dalton leading the NSW Championship, and Tony Sullens plus Tom Clarke both in a position to make this weekend count, there is plenty to watch from a NSW point of view.

#NaroomaForestRally #RallyNSW #NSWRallyChampionship #OnTheDirt

🕒 Update at 21:35 – 26.06.26

Strategy chat or solving the whole rally in the service park? 🤔🍊

Tony Sullens and Josh Redhead look deep in discussion ahead of Narooma, and you’d reckon both crews know what’s on the line this weekend. With Richie Dalton leading the NSW Championship, and a couple of key contenders not entered, Narooma shapes as a big chance for Sullens and Redhead to bank a serious points haul.

Fast forests, technical stages, two big days for the field. The NSW title fight is still well and truly alive 👊

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRally #ShamrockHaulageNSWRC #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW

🕒 Update at 21:25 – 26.06.26

James O’Malley and Jono Forrest looking nice and relaxed at Narooma this afternoon 😄

That’ll change quickly come 8:30 tomorrow, when the helmets go on and it’s all serious business. O’Malley heads into Narooma sitting sixth in the NSW Rally Championship, and with a couple of key rivals not entered, this weekend is a real chance to make ground.

Fast forests, technical roads, and plenty on the line. That’s how we like it. 🌲💨

#NaroomaForestRally #NSWRallyChampionship #OnTheDirt #RallyNSW #Omalley