Dalton seeded sixth for the WA Forest Rally

Richie Dalton and co-driver Mac Kierans are heading west to take on the notoriously slippery gravel of the Western Australian Forest Rally.

They've been seeded sixth in the second round of the 2026 Australian Rally Championship (ARC), and will be tackling the iconic stages in their Toyota GR Yaris AP4. 

The all-wheel-drive machine carries serious championship pedigree, having previously claimed an ARC title in the hands of factory driver Lewis Bates.

In the starting order, Dalton finds himself in top-tier company, seeded just behind former V8 Supercars driver Alex Rullo in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, and directly ahead of rising star Jackson Long in his Skoda Fabia R5.

While Dalton is the major sponsor of the New South Wales Rally Championship (NSWRC) and has dedicated his main 2026 campaign to that series, the lure of the WA forests was too strong to ignore. 

The Forest Rally, running from May 22-24, holds special memories for Dalton who secured an impressive second-place finish in both heats behind the wheel of his Yaris at his last appearance there in 2022.

Richie Dalton is ready for a trip west.

"I’m not necessarily chasing an outright result this weekend," Dalton admitted. "I just love the WA event and the unique forest roads that the rally uses.

"It's an iconic event on the ARC calendar, and I can't wait to get back and have another crack at the stages."

The WA entry slots perfectly into his season calendar. Dalton recently debuted his brand-new classic Ford Escort Mk2 on the gravel at the Otago Rally in New Zealand last April. 

With a two-month gap before the next round of the NSWRC – the Narooma Forest Rally on June 26-28 (which also serves as an ARC round) – the timing was ideal for a return to ARC competition.

"After finishing second in the Rally of Bathurst back in March, it will be great to get back behind the wheel of the Yaris again," Dalton added.

The ARC Plant Hire Forest Rally will be based out of the scenic town of Nannup, approximately 260km south of Perth. 

The 2026 event also features the return of former Junior World Rally Champion, Tom Kristensson, who will be contesting the event for a second time in a Skoda Fabia.

Fans can follow Dalton's progress throughout the weekend as the top-tier Australian crews battle it out over two intense days of rallying.