A strong and varied field is heading to Batemans Bay this weekend for the 2026 Lazer Rally of the Bay, with the event set to play an important role in the battle for the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship.
The championship contest could take a significant turn on the South Coast, with several leading crews arriving in different cars, chasing valuable points or returning to competition.
One of the biggest talking points will be Josh Redhead and Ray Winwood-Smith, who will swap their front-running Mitsubishi Lancer Evo for a considerably less powerful Datsun Stanza.
Redhead has been one of the benchmark competitors in the championship this season, but the move to the classic Datsun will make outright pace much harder to find. The change could open the door for several championship rivals to make up ground in the standings.
Richie Dalton and Mac Kierans will be determined to capitalise in their Toyota GR Yaris. Dalton heads to Batemans Bay eager to collect a strong haul of points and move ahead of Tony Sullens in the championship battle.
Sullens and co-driver Julia Barkley will also have something different underneath them this weekend. The pair will compete in their Citroen DS3 rather than the Peugeot, adding another interesting element to the fight at the front of the field.
Clayton Hoy and Brad Jones will be another crew capable of upsetting the established order. Hoy will make an appearance in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI and is expected to be extremely fast on the Batemans Bay forest roads.
It is also great to see Jamie and Brad Luff returning in the Toyota GR Yaris. The Luff brothers bring plenty of experience and speed to the event and should be right in the mix as the competition unfolds.
Tom Clarke will also be back in action after a disappointing end to the Narooma Forest Rally. With Ryan back alongside him in the car, Clarke will be looking to put Narooma behind him and produce a strong result at Batemans Bay.
Bethany Cullen and Mel McMinn will continue their championship campaign aboard their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Cullen will be looking to build on her season and secure another valuable collection of points.
James O’Malley and Jono Forrest will also be a crew to watch in their Toyota 86. After showing promising speed at Narooma before an early retirement, the team will be hoping for a clean run and the opportunity to demonstrate the car’s potential across the full event.
The field also includes a strong mix of experienced championship contenders, emerging competitors and classic rally machinery, setting the scene for an entertaining day of competition through the forests surrounding Batemans Bay.
With championship points on the line and several leading crews facing very different challenges, the Lazer Rally of the Bay could produce some major changes to the standings before the season moves into its second half.
View the Entries
The current list of entries can be viewed on the Rally of the Bay website: https://nsscc.com.au/rally-of-the-bay/#entries_received
The official seeded entry list will be released soon.
Planning to Spectate?
Spectators are encouraged to download the official Spectator Instructions before travelling to the event. The instructions include spectator locations, access information, safety requirements and everything needed to enjoy the rally.
Download the Spectator Instructions here: https://nsscc.com.au/rally-of-the-bay/#spectators
The 2026 Lazer Rally of the Bay will be held in Batemans Bay on Saturday, 25th July.
