DEAN Lillie and Sammy Stevens claimed outright victory in a historic three-day Great Tarmac Rally at Marysville, while Michael Harding and James Thornburn are crowned the Australian Tarmac Rally Champions 2026. The Great Tarmac Rally 2026 has concluded after three demanding days of competition across Lake Mountain Road, Eildon–Jamieson Road and the legendary Reefton Spur, marking the successful completion of the event's biggest and most ambitious edition to date. For the first time in its history, the Great Tarmac Rally expanded to three days, bringing together three of Victoria's most iconic rally roads in an extended test of speed, endurance, mechanical reliability and consistency. While Dean Lillie and Sammy Stevens ultimately secured outright victory, the road to the finish was anything but predictable. Fierce stage battles, mechanical failures and dramatic changes in the standings shaped a weekend that tested even the most experienced crews. Beyond the competition, delivering the expanded Great Tarmac Rally represented one of the most significant logistical undertakings in Australian Tarmac Rally's history. Bringing together Lake Mountain Road, Eildon–Jamieson Road and Reefton Spur across three consecutive days required extensive planning, coordination and consultation with government authorities, local communities, emergency services, specialist contractors and hundreds of officials and volunteers. Australian Tarmac Rally Event Director Brittany Wilson said the successful delivery of the event was an important milestone for the organisation. "There's a big difference between planning a three-day rally on paper and actually watching it unfold,” Ms Wilson said. “We've spent the better part of 12 months working towards this weekend and seeing competitors tackle all three of these roads has been incredibly rewarding. "Each day presented its own challenges. “Lake Mountain demanded precision, Eildon–Jamieson tested endurance, and Reefton Spur was the ultimate final hurdle. “Bringing all three together into one event has been a huge achievement for our organisation. "We're a small organisation putting on a very big event, and none of this happens without an extraordinary amount of work behind the scenes. "Our officials, suppliers, safety crews and emergency services personnel have been absolutely outstanding. “Many of them have spent longer out on the roads than the competitors themselves, and their contribution deserves enormous recognition. "Seeing the crews reach the finish after three days is what makes the work worthwhile. “There have been some incredible performances, some heartbreaking retirements and plenty of challenges along the way, but that's the reality of rallying. "We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved, and even more grateful to the people who continue to support what we're building." With the first three-day Great Tarmac Rally now complete, the event has set a new benchmark for Australian Tarmac Rally, demonstrating both the scale of the organisation's ambitions and the extraordinary commitment required to deliver closed-road motorsport across Victoria's alpine regions. The conclusion also marks the end of another significant championship season, with Australian Tarmac Rally continuing to develop and evolve its events in response to the changing demands of the sport and its competitors.
