The Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship kicked off in spectacular fashion over the weekend at the Toyota Gazoo Racing Rally of Canberra, delivering intense competition across the field. Queenslander Josh Wiedman and co-driver KJ Miller emerged as the standout performer, taking the overall victory and establishing Wiedman as a serious contender for the 2025 NSW Rally Championship. Having initially been overlooked as a NSW competitor due to an event administrative error, Wiedman’s speed and consistency put him at the top of the standings, and he is now looking forward to contesting the full NSW Championship season.
“It was a big team effort to get it all done, so I’m proud of the whole team for digging in and getting it done”, said Wiedman.
Finishing second overall was multiple NSW Rally Champion Tony Sullens, showcasing his immense talent by taking the fight to the field in an MRF supported 2WD Citroën DS3 against a lineup dominated by powerful 4WD rally cars. Sullens, alongside co-driver Kaylie Newell, proved that experience and precision driving can still challenge the 4WD rally machinery.
“We didn’t come with any great expectations. Being 2WD we just wanted to go fast, keep it clean and see how it ended up. It’s a tough little car, that Citroën, so we didn’t have any problems with reliability other than a couple of punctures, and I think I’ve been struggling with a strut which caused us to lose a bit of time, but apart from that it was good”, said Sullens.
Rounding out the podium was Andrew Penny in his Subaru WRX, delivering a strong and consistent performance across the weekend with long time co-driver Rhys Llewellyn. Penny fought off intense competition to secure third place, setting himself up, once again, as a key contender in this year’s championship fight.
“Great rally, great roads, we had a good time, car ran faultlessly the whole time. It’s always nice to turn up and then drive it back on the trailer with no scratches. It’s all good!”, said Penny.
The rally saw a highly competitive field of 16 teams, including 2024 NSW Championship winners Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith in their Hyundai i20, who won Heat 2 and Heat 3 but were unable to finish Heat 1 due to an oil pump failure.
Jody Mill, driving a Mitsubishi EVO with James Ford calling the notes, was also in the mix, showing solid pace throughout the weekend to claim a strong fourth place overall.
One of the most exciting performances of the weekend came from Jackson Long, who impressed many with his pace and composure. Driving a Subaru Impreza RS and co-driven by his father Damien, Long’s debut in the ARC Junior category marked a significant milestone – making it three generations of the Long family to compete in the ARC. His fifth-place finish in the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship is a testament to his potential, and he will be one to watch as the season unfolds.
The event saw a mix of rally machines from a fire-breathing Audi Quattro to the high-tech Subarus and Lancer EVOs, proving once again why the NSW Rally Championship is one of the most exciting state-level series in Australia. With Queenslander Wiedman now leading the NSW championship standings, the fight for the 2025 title is already shaping up to be an unpredictable and action-packed battle.
The Championship continues to grow, attracting experienced competitors and rising stars alike. With Redhead, Wiedman, Sullens, Penny, Long, and the rest of the field showing immense talent, this season is set to be one of the most thrilling yet.
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