Professional rally driver Harry Bates in the driver's seat of a Glacier White Toyota G R Yaris A P 4. The vehicle is covered in red and black racing livery, featuring TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Australia, as well as various rally sponsors.

Journal — Volume 6

Exclusive rally thrills at the Australian Rally Championship (ARC) season opener

We sent six club members to the Netier National Capital Rally, to experience the event the GAZOO way – riding shotgun around the Kowen Rally Village while the Bates brothers floored the throttle in their GR Yaris AP4.

5 min read

Canberra is a rally fan’s dream. Drive ten minutes out of the city and you’re met with National Parks, mountain roads and gravel tracks in all directions. It was the perfect place to kick off this year’s Australian Rally Championship and treat some lucky club members to something special.

On Day One, the six members headed up to Bald Hill to watch teams battle it out for bonus points at the SS13 Power Stage. Shane Van Gisbergen and Glen Weston drove home for a win in their Skoda Fabia R5. But it wasn’t enough to topple the overall dominance of TGRA champ Harry Bates and co-driver John McCarthy, who took the top spot on the podium for Stage One.

Professional rally driver Harry Bates in his motorsport gear, climbing into a Glacier White Toyota G R Yaris A P 4.

Gazoo Racing Club member Josh, smiles as he sits in the passenger seat of a Toyota rally vehicle.

Gearing up for a quick lap around the Village.

After the presentation ceremony, the club members were off to celebrate at dinner with the whole TGRA Rally Team where they got to relax, talk shop and refill the tank before Day Two’s main event: some dusty hot laps around Kowen Rally Village with Lewis and Harry Bates.

Professional rally driver Harry Bates sits behind the wheel of a Glacier White Toyota G R Yaris A P 4. He looks pensively out the window.

“Absolutely unreal.”

Josh

The village is set up for spectators and hard drivers alike, with plenty of hairpin turns through the pines and opportunities for lift-off down long straights. According to club members we caught up with afterwards, the Bates Brothers didn’t disappoint. “I was immersed in endless noise, straight cut gears, and speed,” Wiall told us. “Definitely an unforgettable experience.”

“The entire weekend was great, but the passenger lap takes the cake for me. Absolutely unreal,” said Josh.

“All in all it was 10 out of 10.”

Lorenzo

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget the passenger lap I got to experience with Harry Bates and the opportunity to listen to Neal Bates’ experiences and knowledge over dinner. All in all it was 10 out of 10,” Lorenzo added.

These club members all won their two-day rally package after submitting great responses to a GAZOO RACING CLUB competition email. So if you’re keen for more exclusive motorsport opportunities, keep an on your inbox for the club correspondence. You could be the next to win.