The arrival of Hayden Paddon and John Kennard was always going to spice up the 2025 ARC. Paddon, a seven times NZ champion, twice European champion and a winner of a WRC round with the Hyundai Word Rally Team, brought masses of experience to their assault on the Australian title. They did not disappoint. It was an impressive result with seven heat wins, and a podium on every event except the first round in Canberra where a kangaroo sidelined them, hardly Paddon’s fault.
Their nearest rivals were always going to be the Bates brothers, and they both matched Paddon on occasions. Queensland was again a turning point in the series with Lewis rolling on Heat 1 and Harry slipping off the road on Heat 2. Lewis impressed in Adelaide, surely his favourite event, with second on both heats to Paddon. Harry took a heat wins in Canberra and Queensland, then rounded out the year with an impressive win in Tasmania where Paddon took a strategic third place to the Bates pair.
A strong challenge was expected from Scott Pedder and Glenn Macneall in a new Rally 2 Škoda Fabia. They scored a podium in Canberra and placed second on Heat 1 in WA but it all fell apart with a big accident in Queensland. They dropped out of the series, competed in a VRC round and returned for Tasmania, but rolled while lying third.
With many strong results from Lewis and Harry Bates, Toyota won the Manufacturers Championship.
To see other years of the ARC, go to the series page.
