The 2025 Tarmac West ceremonial start in Forrest Place, Perth CBD
Record breaking crowds at Day 1 of Lance East Exotics Tarmac West 18-21 September 2025
At a glance
- Over 7,000 spectators estimated at Ellenbrook street stages
- Seven stages on Day 1; four in Whiteman Park (SS1-SS4) and three in Ellenbrook (SS5-SS7), a total of 19.34 competitive kilometres
- At 1.76km, Ellenbrook is the shortest stage of the four-day Lance East Exotics Tarmac West
- 45 rally cars racing the clock
Perth’s premier tarmac rally, Lance East Exotics Tarmac West is underway and the twilight stages of Day 1 of the four-day rally attracted an estimated 7,000 spectators who lined the streets of Ellenbrook as competitors race the clock.
To officially kick things off, 45 rally cars, along with Lance East Exotic display cars, put on a show at Forrest Place in the heart of the City of Perth for the Ceremonial Start.
Drivers, co-drivers and cars have a long challenge ahead, racing the clock along 33 stages, a total of 230 competitive kilometres, and traversing 902 kilometres.
The rally opened with four tight, demanding stages through Whiteman Park followed by three evening sprints at Ellenbrook, a street course lined with high kerbs requiring precision to avoid damage.
Ellenbrook is the rally’s shortest stage at 1.76 kilometres that is run three times.
In the open class, Competition T200, Troy Wilson and Aaron Williams in their 1998 Mitsubishi Evo 7 finished fastest overall, just 2 seconds ahead of
Bryce Moore and co-driver Adrian Burney in their 2022 Toyota Supra, and Will White and co-driver Matt Thompson round out the top three in their 2006 Mitsubishi Evo 9, a further 5 seconds adrift.
A multiple trophy holder in the short-format Rally Sprints, Wilson said he was looking forward to competing in his first long-format Tarmac West.
“We had an issue with the car, and we weren’t sure what it was, but we found out in Ellenbrook that it was a boost line, so I haven’t been able to push it as hard as I’d like,” Wilson said.
“It’s unbelievable that we’re able to drive at speed on these roads.”
Another rookie to the long-format four-day tarmac rally is experienced circuit racer and short-form rally driver, Bryce Moore in his 2022 Toyota Supra.
“I entered because I wanted the challenge of the longer rally,” Moore said.
“We were losing power on the last stage in Whiteman Park and limped across the finish line, but the car seems ok now, it’s going well.”
Paul Moltini and co-driver Lisa Read-White sustained panel damage on their 1971 Ford Capri Perana when they went too fast into a corner on the SS3 in Whiteman Park, hitting a bollard.
Limited to 165km/h, Competition T165 leaders at the end of Day 1 are Sam Lloyd and Marc Roissetter in their 2006 Mitsubishi Evo X by a mere 3 seconds ahead of Keith Hamilton and co-driver David Humphreys in their 2000 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Ben Pang and Brandon Chin climbed a place during the day to finish in third overall, 17 seconds off the lead pace.
Former Mayor of the City of Swan and rally competitor Kevin Bailey, who finished the day in sixth place in Competition T165, said the atmosphere was incredible in Ellenbrook.
“There’s huge crowds here and at the end of the course, people on balconies having barbeques, it’s absolutely phenomenal,” said the four-time Tarmac West competitor.
Limited to 130km/h, Competition T130 saw rookies Thomas Swan and co-driver Josh Couzens top the leaderboard in their 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, 15 seconds ahead of Alex and Lachlan White in their 1990 Nissan Silvia. A further 10 seconds behind in third place is Chris Tottman and Adam Smales in a 2005 Subaru WRX.
Tomorrow, Day 2 of competition consists of eight stages, 67 competitive kilometres and a total distance of 245 kilometres.
Rally action starts in the Perth Hills with morning stages in Parkerville and Kalamunda, before Kalamunda’s Haynes Street transforms into a service park for a 45-minute service and lunch stop. The afternoon stages include the famous Kalamunda Zig Zag, and the day ends with a Show and Shine in Forrest Place in Perth’s CBD on late-night-shopping night, Friday night.
Lance East Exotics Tarmac West, held from 18 to 21 September, is the only event of its kind in Western Australia that tests the endurance of both man and machine.
Competitors in modern and classic cars will race the clock along 33 stages and a total of 230 competitive kilometres along closed roads around Whiteman Park, Ellenbrook, Parkerville, Kalamunda, Toodyay, Maryville, Bullsbrook, Malaga and the City of Perth
Media contact Dianne Bortoletto, ProntoPR, dianne@prontopr.com.au, 0439 997 07