Following the demise of the very popular Castrol Rally in 1981, rallying in the forests around Canberra retreated somewhat from the national and international stage. A number of local events were run during this time, perhaps including early versions of the National Capital Rally. In 1988 the Rally of Canberra (perhaps under the name Rally of Australia) was co-opted into the Australian Rally Championship after the cancellation of Rally Queensland. It may have been the first pace noted ARC round.
Rally of Canberra became a standalone event from 1989, perhaps because it was pace noted, but was also vying for inclusion in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, which did not eventuate until 1999. The event rejoined the ARC in 1992 and remained a heat under the “coefficient” system of 1993-96, before reverting to a standalone event and subsequently APRC round. In the 2000s it was an APRC round most years and also an ARC round most years. During this time. the ARC round was often called the National Capital Rally and in some years did not do every stage of the APRC event.
After a three year gap in 2010-12, the event returned to the ARC, often with a NSWRC sub-event, but with the National Capital Rally name. It was also an APRC round one year (2017). After the COVID years, the event resumed using the Rally of Canberra name in 2023 as an ARC and NSWRC round.
