The 2026 New Zealand Rally Championship is the 49th running of the Championship, running equal amounts of events from the North Island to the South Island.
The 2026 championship will start in the South Island, opening with the Otago Rally in April, followed by Canterbury Rally in May, and Southland Rally in July. Crews will then contest the 2nd half of the 2026 championship in the North Island, starting with Hawkes Bay Rally in August, the Rally of Whangarei in September, and the championship will finish in October at the Bay of Plenty Rally.
Ben Hunt is the defending Driver's Champion, but will only contest a part-time champaign in 2026. Defending Co-Drivers champion Tony Rawstron will also only contest a part-time champaign in 2026.
The championship introduces a new class in 2026, titled Category 6. Category 6 is for 2wd classic rally cars, following the same rules as the classic division of the Otago Rally.
The 2026 New Zealand Rally Championship championship was won by Jack Hawkeswood and Jason Farmer at the penultimute round held at the Rally of Whangarei. It is Jack's first NZRC win, and Jason's second NZRC win.
Teams and Drivers
Overall
Category 1 (4WD) EntrantModelTyreDriverCo-DriverRounds Stokes MotorsportŠkoda Fabia Rally2 evo Robbie Stokes Andy Sarandis1-2 Ally Mackay3-5Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo Jack Stokes Hayden Graves1-5 Dylan Thomson RallysportŠkoda Fabia Rally2 evo Dylan Thomson Bayden Thomson1 Quentin Palmer RallysportŠkoda Fabia Rally2 evo Quentin Palmer Noel Moloney1 Michael Goudie2-5 Pierre Brunet RacingSkoda Fabia RS Rally2 Pierre-Henri Brunet Sean Lockyear1-2, 5 Force MotorsportToyota GR Yaris Rally2 Jack Hawkeswood Jason Farmer1-5Toyota GR Yaris Cup Toby Price Larisa Biggar1 Ben Searcy4Toyota GR Yaris Cup Ben Hunt Tony Rawstron3Mazda 2 AP45 Nelson Law RacingToyota Yaris AP4+ Nelson Law Antonio Korikalo1-2, 4 William Menzies MotorsportToyota GR Yaris Cup William Menzies Dolan Doug4 Duncan McCrostieVolkswagen Polo R5 Duncan McCrostie Greg Fitzgerald1
Category 2 (FIA 2WD) EntrantModelTyreDriverCo-DriverRounds Fuyuhiko TakahashiFord Fiesta Rally4 Fuyuhiko Takahashi Ken Takahashi1 Jackson Clendon Motorsport Jackson Clendon Sean Lockyear4 Mackersy MotorsportSuzuki Swift Sport Cup Edgar Vigo Lopez Fatima Ameneiro1
Category 3 (OPEN 2WD) EntrantModelTyreDriverCo-DriverRounds Strong MotorsportHonda Jazz RS Dave Strong Rob Scott1-5 Ari PettigrewPorsche 911 WRC Ari Pettigrew Jack Norris1-3, 5 Paddon RallysportPorsche 991 GT3 Andy Martin Matt Hayward3 Mackersy MotorsportFord Fiesta Rally4 Tim Mackersy Lauren Mackersy1-3, 5 Stumpy HolmesFord Escort MkII Stumpy Holmes Kevin Vince1
Category 4 (Historic) EntrantModelTyreDriverCo-DriverRounds Pat NorrisToyota Corolla AE86 Pat Norris Geoff Parr1, 5 Kevin Cooke3 Veronica Penny4 Mike CameronMitsubishi Lancer Mike Cameron Helen Cameron1Mitsubishi EX Lancer Kelly Carson2, 4-5 Phil MacquarieFord Escort RS1800 MkII Phil Macquarie Andrew Brooks1-2, 4-5 Mark ParsonsTriumph TR7 V8 Mark Parsons Mal Clark1
Category 6C (Classic 6C) EntrantModelTyreDriverCo-DriverRounds Harding MotorsportMazda RX-7 Ben Harding Charlotte Harding1-5 Palmside MotorsportFord Escort RS1800 MkII Deane Buist Karl Celeste1-4 Harding MotorsportFord Escort MkII BDA Roger McKay Dean McCrostie1-5 McIver MotorsportFord Escort MkII Tim McIver Rocky Hudson1 Derek AysonOpel Manta 400 Derek Ayson Catriona Kelly1-2 Paul CrossToyota Corolla AE86 Paul Cross Janey Blair1-3
Rally Challenge
Category 5A (4WD) EntrantModelTyreDriverCo-DriverRounds Grant BlackberryMitsubishi Lancer Evo XN/A Grant Blackberry Ric Chalmers1-2, 4 Caleb MacDonaldMitsubishi Lancer Evo 8N/A Caleb MacDonald Erin Kelly1-2 Paddon RallysportSubaru Impreza WRX RAN/A Andy Martin Matt Hayward1 Silcock MotorsportMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6N/A Harri Silcock Mark Greenwood1-3 Josh KeighleySubaru Impreza H6N/A Josh Keighley Neill Woolley1-4 Thomas Paul RallyingN/A Thomas Paul Bridget Airey1-3 McIver MotorsportN/A James McIver Brody Cattermole1-3 Kevin LairdN/A Kevin Laird Aled Jones1-3 James MacdonaldN/A James Macdonald Josh Edwards1 Terri TaylorSubaru Impreza GTN/A Terri Taylor Daph O'Rourke1-3 Willy HawesToyota Celica GT-4N/A Willy Hawes Veronica Penny1-2 Robert DarringtonToyota Yaris AP4N/A Robert Darrington Mel Peden1Subaru Legacy RSN/A5
Category 5B (2WD) EntrantModelTyreDriverCo-DriverRounds Shamrock MotorsportFord Escort RS1800 MkIIN/A Richie Dalton Mac Kierans1 Sean McAloonFord Escort MkIIN/A Sean McAloon Mathew James1 Michael O'HaganFord Escort MkIIN/A Michael O'Hagan Eoin Moynihan1 Alcorn MotorsportFord Escort MkIIN/A Glenn Alcorn Eoin Moynihan1 Darren Galbraith Ford Fiesta R2N/A Darren Galbraith Rocky Hudson 2 Silcock MotorsportFord Fiesta R2N/A Josh Silcock Ben Leech1-3 Daph O'Rourke4 Rory LawnToyota StarletN/A Rory Lawn Matt Sayers1-3, 5 Tony McConachyToyota Starlet HyabusaN/A Tony McConachy Sarah Brennan1 McCrae SloperBMW E36N/A McCrae Sloper David Christie1 Mackersy MotorsportSuzuki Swift Sport CupN/A Ian Warren Matt Priest2
Category 5C (4WD - Gp A) EntrantModelTyreDriverCo-DriverRounds Josh KeighleySubaru Impreza H6N/A Josh Keighley Neill Woolley1-4 Thomas Paul RallyingN/A Thomas Paul Bridget Airey1-3 McIver MotorsportN/A James McIver Brody Cattermole1-3 Kevin LairdN/A Kevin Laird Aled Jones1-3 James MacdonaldN/A James Macdonald Josh Edwards1 Terri TaylorSubaru Impreza GTN/A Terri Taylor Daph O'Rourke1-3
Teams Cup
Categories 1-4 & 6 Team NameCarTyreDriversCo-DriversRounds Stokes MotorsportŠkoda Fabia Rally2 evo Robbie Stokes Andy Sarandis11-2 Ally Mackay3-5 Jack Stokes Hayden Graves11-5 Team Sth Auckland Car ClubToyota GR Yaris Rally2 Jack Hawkeswood Jason Farmer11-5Honda Jazz RS Dave Strong Rob Scott31-5 Real Fords of NZFord Escort RS1800 MkII Deane Buist Karl Celeste11-4Ford Fiesta Rally4 Tim Mackersy Lauren Mackersy31-3, 5 ESCC ClassicsOpel Manta 400 Derek Ayson Catriona Kelly6C1-2Toyota Corolla AE86 Paul Cross Janey Blair6C1-3 North Island Cat 6sMazda RX-7 Ben Harding Charlotte Harding6C1-5Ford Escort MkII BDA Roger McKay Dean McCrostie6C1-5
Categories 5 Team NameCarTyreDriversCo-DriversRounds Silcock MotorsportFord Fiesta R2N/A Josh Silcock Ben Leech5B1-3 Daph O'Rourke4Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6N/A Harri Silcock Mark Greenwood5A1-3 Team H6Subaru Impreza H6N/A Josh Keighley Neill Woolley5A / 5C1-4Subaru Impreza H6N/A Thomas Paul Bridget Airey5A / 5C1-3 Big Belly RallyMitsubishi Lancer Evo 8N/A Caleb MacDonald Erin Kelly5A1-2Subaru Impreza H6N/A Kevin Laird Aled Jones5A / 5C1-3 MCL M-SportFord Escort RS1800 MkIIN/A Richie Dalton Mac Kierans5B1Ford Escort MkIIN/A Glenn Alcorn Eoin Moynihan5B1
Calendar
The 2026 season is scheduled to be contested over six rounds, three in the North Island and three in the South Island. RoundDateRallyOrganising ClubRally HeadquartersSurfaceStagesCompetitive DistanceRef.110–12 AprilOtago RallyOtago Sports Car ClubDunedin, Otago, New ZealandGravel16284.26 km231 MayCanterbury RallyAutosport Car ClubRangiora, Canterbury, New ZealandGravel9128.75 km318 JulyRally SouthlandEastern Southland Car ClubInvercargill, Southland, New ZealandGravel7159.20 km422 AugustRally Hawke's BayHawke's Bay Car ClubNapier, Hawke's Bay, New ZealandGravel5122.72 km525-27 SeptemberRally of WhangareiRally New Zealand Club IncWhangarei, Northland, New ZealandGravel18288.51 km631 OctoberRally Bay of PlentyRally Bay of PlentyWhakatāne, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandGravel9162.18 km
Results
Winners Per Event RoundEventWinning driverWinning Co-DriverWinning carWinning TeamRef.1Otago Rally Jack Stokes Hayden Graves Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo Real Fords of NZ2Canterbury Rally Jack Hawkeswood Jason Farmer Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 Real Fords of NZ3Rally Southland Jack Stokes Hayden Graves Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo Real Fords of NZ4Rally Hawke's Bay Jack Hawkeswood Jason Farmer Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 Team Sth Auckland Car Club5Rally of Whangarei Jack Hawkeswood Jason Farmer Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 Team Sth Auckland Car Club6Rally Bay of Plenty
Overall
Drivers Pos.Driver NameOTACANSOUHAWWHABOPPoints TotalL1L2RdRdRdRdL1L2RdRd1 Jack Hawkeswood212 31 22 31 1111 21642 Jack Stokes121 22 11 13 2DNF11273 Quentin Palmer433 53 34 24 4333 31224 Robbie Stokes3DNF1DNF3 42 2222925 Ben Harding118888726 Dave Strong101097707 Ari Pettigrew544 44 45 5DNF4668 Tim Mackersy6996619 Roger McKay16111110105510 Deane Buist5565311 Pierre-Henri Brunet875555112 Pat Norris20131312134313 Phil Macquarie17121211114114 Toby Price575 53615 Mike Cameron21141413123016 Nelson Law1262817 Andy Martin1092618 Ben HuntDNF444 52419 Paul Cross132120 William Menzies61721= Carter Strang71621= Jackson Clendon71623 Derek Ayson9DNF51524 Duncan McCrostie14925 Stumpy Holmes15826 Fuyuhiko Takahashi18527 Edgar Vigo Lopez194 Mark ParsonsDNF Tim McIverDNF Dylan ThomsonDNF Willy HawesDNFDNF Darren GalbraithDNF
Co-Drivers Pos.Driver NameOTACANSOUHAWWHABOPPoints TotalL1L2RdRdRdRdL1L2RdRd1 Jason Farmer212 31 22 31 1111 21642 Hayden Graves121 22 11 13 2DNF11273 Michael Goudie3 34 24 4333 3964 Ally Mackay3 42 2222785 Charlotte Harding118888726 Rob Scott101097707 Sean Lockyear877555678 Jack Norris544 44 45 5DNF4669 Lauren Mackersy69966110 Dean McCrostie16111110105511 Karl Celeste5565312 Andrew Brooks17121211114113 Kelly Carson1413123014 Antonio Korikalo1262815 Matt Hayward1092716 Noel Moloney433 52617 Jared Hudson444 52418 Janey Blair132119 Ben Searcy5 51920= Larisa Biggar571720= Doug Dolan61722 Kingsley Jones71623 Catriona Kelly9DNF51524 Geoff Parr20131325 Veronica PennyDNFDNF121126 Mike Matherson131027= Kevin Cooke13927= Greg Fitzgerald14929= Andrew Sarandis3DNF1DNF829= Kevin Vince15831 Ken Takahashi18532 Fatima Ameneiro19433 Helen Cameron210 Rocky HudsonDNFDNF Mal ClarkDNF Bayden ThomsonDNF Tony RawstronDNF
Points System Points FormatPosition1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th18th19th20thRound Points252220191817161514131211109876543Leg Points75321Power Stage54321
Round Points: Awarded for Top 20 Overall / Class Leg Points: Awarded for Top 5 overall for each day. (Otago / Whangarei) Power Stage: Awarded for Top 5 fastest on the Power Stage (Overall / Class)
References