Redhead Ready for Redemption at the 2025 Lazer Rally of the Bay

After a tough start to the season, young gun Josh Redhead and experienced co-driver Ray Winwood-Smith are looking to bounce back in a big way at the 2025 Lazer Rally of the Bay, one of the most anticipated rounds of the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship.

Redhead has shown flashes of serious speed in 2025 but has also had more than his fair share of bad luck. At Round 1 in Canberra, he banked some points early but saw his weekend unravel in Heat 3 when he ripped off a front arm and wheel. Things went from bad to worse at the Bega Valley Rally, where he clipped a bridge on the opening stage and saw his event end before it had really begun.

Since then, the team has tackled other events with mixed success, but the focus has always been on regrouping for the second half of the NSWRC season. That rebuild effort has culminated in a full overhaul of the car leading into the Lazer Rally.

“The car has undergone a full overhaul after our little mishap at Bega… when a bridge jumped out at us!” said Redhead with a grin. “We only finished putting everything back together this morning, and unfortunately there’s no time to test before the Bay. But with incredible support from Dashsport and Redhead Motorsport, we’re confident the car is ready to perform.”

“Our approach this weekend is about finding a solid pace early and sticking to it,” added Winwood-Smith. “We’ve got one eye on the bigger picture with the state championship, especially after a slower start to the season than we’d hoped for.”

Despite the setbacks, Redhead remains one of the strongest contenders in the field, and with Richie Dalton returning in a Toyota GR Yaris and Harry Bates, a multiple Australian Rally Champion, making an appearance, the stage is set for a high-stakes battle at the front.

“We’re definitely aiming for a strong result here,” said Redhead. “It’s a great opportunity to challenge someone like Richie, who’s won the event four times, and to test ourselves against Harry Bates. But we know we need to be smart, and finishing the rally is absolutely key.”

The 2025 Lazer Rally of the Bay takes place on Saturday 2nd August in Batemans Bay, with 10 challenging stages covering over 170 km of competitive distance, including two night stages. The event is part of the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship, East Coast Classic Rally Series, and Clubman Rally Series, and will feature a full field of top-tier talent from across the region.