2025 Shannons Adelaide Rally

The Shannons Adelaide Rally returned to the fantastic driving roads of the Adelaide Hills, this time bigger than ever with a record field of cars. The expanding Rally Pro category attracted the likes of ex-WRC driver Haydon Paddon/Jared Hudson (2022 Hyundai 120N Rally2) from over the ditch in New Zealand as well as Asian rally teams, Ryan Nirwan/Garindra Hutmani Kusama (2022 Toyota GR Yaris AP4), Rifat Sungkar/Brad Jones (2018 Mitsubishi Xpander), Mohammad Moreno/Hendi Reeve Akbar (2019 Mazda 2) and Australian Stuart Reid/Bella Haggarty (2019 Mitsubishi Mirage APR). Defending his 2024 Adelaide Rally crown was Alex Rullo/Ben Searcy (2022 Hyundai i20N Rally2) and fresh from taking out the New South Wales Rally Championship was Josh Redhead/Ray Winwood-Smith combo (2012 Hyundai i20).

The 2nd highest category was the Competition category, divided into Modern Comp and Classic Comp sub categories. Expected to top the time sheets were Oscar Matthews/Darren Masters (1999 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI), Richard Lovell/Radziszewski (2007 Subaru WRX Spec C STi) and Matt Selley/Hamish McKendrick (2003 Mitsubishi Evo 8 RS). To really entertain the crowds in the Classic Comp category were Irishman Frank Kelly and his daughter Lauren (1977 Ford Escort Mk2), Jack Monkhouse/Neill Woolley (1973 Datsun 180SSS) and Dave McDonough/Steve Hiser (1970 Ford Capri Perana). Other notable teams were Thomas Dermody/Mac Kierans (1973 Ford RS 1600), Nick Streckeisen/Mike Dale (1985 Porsche 944 Turbo).

The 3rd timed category was Challenge 130 (as in limited to 130km/h) with 12 cars entered but this year without the fast previous winning Metzger Porsche that instead did tour leader/tour follower duties. Tom Rogers in his 2002 Subaru STi was expected to put in a strong showing. Challenge 130 Classic only had just the 3 entrants featuring a 1985 BMW M3, 1985 Porsche 944 Turbo and a 1979 Rover SD1.

The TSD (Time-speed-distance) category, a regularity category featured 15 entrants.

The weather gods decided to give sunny conditions on the Friday, but then heavens opened on the Saturday and with treacherous conditions combined with a car losing it’s oil on the famous Corkscrew stage reducing it to a transport stage things would get interesting. The all wheel drive cars would revel in the conditions. The Sunday saw a return to sunny conditions, but the wet conditions had taken out some of the fancied competitors.

The provisional winners of the 2025 Shannons Adelaide Rally were Hayden Paddon/Jared Hudson, 2mins ahead of Alex Rullo/Ben Searcy in the Rally Pro category. Other category winners included Oscar Matthew/Darren Masters (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI) in Competition Modern, and Frank and Lauren Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) in Competition Classic. Taking out Challenge 130 was Tom Rogers/Stephen Rogers over Robbie Brocklebank/Alastair MacGregor (1991 Toyota Corolla), and in Challenge 130 Classic the honours went to Corey Fechner/Ben Chipman (1985 BMW M3). TSD category went to Steven Mahlo/Shane Wood (2010 BMW 535i) losing only 46 points.

These photos are from 2 stages on Friday and one on Sunday are just a few of the photos available. I had been contemplating Corkscrew stages on Saturday but was a bit under the weather (pardon the pun) so didn’t head out.

When selecting a photo to view, click on the thumbnail, then click on the small photo that first appears, to then view the larger image.