SECOND ENTRY CONFIRMED FOR AUSTRALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL WITH LEWIS BATES DOUBLING TOYOTA REPRESENTATION

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Australia will have double the representation at the EROAD Australian Rally Championship’s special appearance at this year’s bp Adelaide Grand Final with Lewis Bates confirming his place.

 

The current ARC leader is the second confirmed driver for the highly anticipated Australian Rally Championship Festival, as he joins his brother and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Australia teammate Harry Bates for the event.

 

Set to feature the fastest rally crews and cars in Australia, the Australian Rally Championship Festival will be run in a special Race of Champions-style format.

 

Drivers will showcase their incredible skill behind the wheel of top-spec machinery on a temporary purpose-built dirt track, as they race one-on-one in front of the iconic Victoria Park Heritage Grandstand.

 

Similar to Harry, Lewis will be behind the wheel of his Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 car – one of the top rally vehicles around the world – second only to the FIA World Rally Championship’s Rally1 cars.

 

The 2022 ARC champion is currently in a rich vein of form having won the most recent round of the 2026 season – the Subaru Wilderness Rally Tasmania victory leapfrogging him and co-driver Anthony McLoughlin to the top of the standings.

 

While it was his first victory since the 2025 season opener in Canberra, Lewis has been hugely consistent over the past two seasons having finished every event no lower than fourth and scoring six podiums.

 

His 2026 form in the ever-important Power Stages has also been second to none with the Canberran winning six out of a possible seven – a stat that has earned him the current lead with two rounds to go.

 

With two Toyotas currently locked in, further manufacturers, formats and scheduling details for the ARC Festival at the 2026 bp Adelaide Grand Final will be announced closer to the event.

 

Access to all the ARC Festival action at the 2026 bp Adelaide Grand Final is included in all event tickets available at ticketmaster.com.au/adelaidegrandfinal

 

The 2026 bp Adelaide Grand Final takes place 26 – 29 November. For more information, please visit www.adelaidegrandfinal.com.au

 

QUOTES

Lewis Bates

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Australia driver

 

“I am thrilled to be able to feature in the Australian Rally Championship Festival as it’s a hugely exciting opportunity – not just from a rally driver perspective, but from someone in the motorsport industry as a whole,” Lewis said.

 

“The bp Adelaide Grand Final is one of the biggest events on the Australian sporting calendar and to be able to represent Toyota along with Harry and showcase what the Australian Rally Championship is all about is an honour.

 

“I truly can’t wait to get going and look forward to putting on a show in front of the thousands of fans attending the bp Adelaide Grand Final.”

 

John Pappas

Vice President Sales, Marketing & Franchise Operations, Toyota Australia

 

“Through TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Australia, we continue to invest in motorsport as part of our commitment to developing ever-better cars and showcasing the performance capabilities of our vehicles,” Pappas said.

 

“The Australian Rally Championship Festival is a fantastic opportunity to introduce rally and the GR Yaris to a broader audience, and we’re proud to have Harry and Lewis Bates representing Toyota on such a significant stage for Australian motorsport.”