Nine-Car RC2 Field Highlights Huge 100 Acre Wood Entry
- masonrunkel
- 10 minutes ago
- 15 min read
(Salem, Mo., March 11, 2026) — The second round of the 2026 American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship heads to the wide-open, fast and flowing roads of the Mark Twain National Forest southwest of St. Louis, as 68 competitors descend on Potosi and Salem, Missouri for the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood (100AW), March 13–14.
Building on a strong showing at the season-opening Sno*Drift Rally, 100AW features an ARA-record nine RC2-class entries and 13 FIA-homologated cars, along with the debut of the Stellantis Rally Cup North America, powerful evidence of ARA’s growing global appeal and the rising prominence of American Rally on the worldwide rally scene.
The event also marks the first ARA start for Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) and American Rally Raid star Seth Quintero in the all-new GR Corolla Rally RC2, adding further depth to an already stacked field that spans frontrunning national teams and rising regional talent.
With a history dating back to the 1970s, 100 Acre Wood has long been known as the fastest rally on the ARA calendar, rewarding high-commitment driving, precise pace notes, and the ability to react instantly to changing sightlines. Historically favoring long-wheelbase, high-horsepower open-class cars, the 2026 entry list—packed with past champions, new and returning stars, and more agile European-style machinery—promises a wide-open battle for the overall podium.
This year’s 100AW itinerary covers 125 miles of loose gravel across 13 stages and two days of competition. It also welcomes back the fan-favorite “Cattle Guard Jump”—where competitors often launch more than 100 feet through the air—for the first time in five years.
The excitement begins Thursday, March 12 at Hood Park in Cuba, Missouri, with the first-ever Rally Fest, running from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event gives fans a chance to see the cars up close, meet drivers, and experience rally culture before competition begins. Food trucks, featuring local favorites, will be on site, local car clubs will display their vehicles, and racing simulators will allow fans to test their skills on virtual rally stages.
For fans not on-site, March 12 will also see the online debut of Episode 1 of “Don't Cut: An American Rally Story,” a new streaming video series featuring never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage from the 2025 ARA National Championship (http://www.youtube.com/@ararally).
100 AW competition begins at 1:33 p.m. on Friday, March 13 following an 11:45 a.m. Parc Exposé in downtown Potosi. Crews will tackle “Hazel Creek” and “Floyd Tower West” before heading to service in Huzzah. The pair of stages will then run again in reverse order, followed by “KP to Ollie Long” and the first pass over the Cattle Guard Jump to close out the day.
Saturday opens with a 9:00 a.m. Parc Exposé in downtown Salem. The first car is scheduled to start “Deep Ford” at 10:16 a.m., followed by “Loop Southern 5600” and “Nova Scotia South.” After service at the Dent County Commons, competitors return to “KP to Ollie Long,” then tackle “Crooked Truck South” before the final service of the rally.
From there, Regional entrants will follow the National field through “Loop Southern 5600” and “Nova Scotia South” once more before heading to the awards ceremony at the Dent County Commons. National competitors will instead make a third pass over “KP to Ollie Long,” which serves as the ARA Power Stage, paying out extra championship points for the top-five finishers.
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team Makes ARA Debut at 100 Acre Wood
World Rally Championship powerhouse Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) will make its American Rally debut at 100 Acre Wood with the all-new GR Corolla Rally RC2. Developed for American stages, the GR Corolla enters the highly competitive RC2 category alongside Rally2, R5, and N5 vehicles.
TGR-WRT has selected U.S. rally raid standout Seth Quintero to lead the program, as he transitions from the GR DKR Hilux race truck to the smaller, more nimble GR Corolla for his first stage rally appearance.
“I’m very excited and grateful to Toyota Gazoo Racing for this opportunity. It’s truly an honor to link up with this team and to hopefully enjoy it and learn a lot,” Quintero told DirtFish.
“It’s a new challenge for me to go stage rallying. I’m used to driving 500 kilometers a day or more in W2RC [the World Rally Raid Championship], so doing up to 100km a day will bring a different intensity, and switching between the light and nimble GR Corolla and the bigger DKR GR Hilux will be two different worlds – but they are also similar in a lot of aspects and in the driving characteristics.
“So far, driving the car in testing has been so awesome, and the team has been so welcoming. I’ve got so much respect for everybody involved, and I’m really hoping to make the team proud and have a lot of fun together.”
Quintero will be joined by his usual navigator, Topi Luhtinen for the season as they set their sights high and aim for a debut championship.
Record RC2 Field Headlined by Block, Williams, Gruszka and More
Toyota’s arrival comes at a time when the ARA RC2 class is enjoying unprecedented growth. 100 Acre Wood will feature the largest RC2 field in ARA history, bringing together former champions, factory-supported efforts, and ambitious privateers in a diverse mix of mounts.
Among the headline entries, Lia Block will make her Rally2 debut in a Rockstar Energy Drink-sponsored Hyundai i20 car alongside co-driver Alex Gelsomino. The 2023 ARA Open Two-Wheel-Drive (O2WD) Champion—the youngest in ARA history—nearly captured her first overall ARA rally victory at Sno*Drift and has shown promise in all-wheel-drive machinery from Subaru’s Open Four-Wheel-Drive (O4WD) WRX ARA25 to the Ford Fiesta Rally3 in which she claimed the Limited Four-Wheel-Drive (L4WD) class win at Boone Forest Rally last year. A step into Rally2 for the remainder of the 2026 season marks her most serious push yet toward an overall National victory—and potentially the ARA National Championship title.
Another major contender is 2022 RC2 Champion Tom Williams, who returns in the Standard Motorsports Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for his first ARA start since Southern Ohio Forest Rally in 2023. Reunited with long-time co-driver Ross Whittock and supported by four-time ARA National co-driver Champion Keaton Williams (no relation) as team manager, Briton Williams arrives with both experience and organizational depth behind him.
“I’m definitely looking forward to coming back to the ARA. We’ll be going for the overall result, that’s for sure,” Williams told DirtFish.
“I really hope the championship gets the recognition it should. This blend of new competitors, more RC2 cars, more Rally3 cars, and Toyota GR’s presence as an official TGR effort is massive. For all this to be unfolding against the unique, home-built cars in ARA makes for a brilliant buzz.”
Also expected to feature near the front are the No. 192 Ford Fiesta Rally2 of two-time L4WD champions Javier Olivares and KJ Miller, The Green APU Sponsored Hyundais of two-time RC2 Champion Pat Gruszka and Florian Barral, and teammates Alastair Scully and Stefan Trajkov, and the No. 824 Ford Fiesta Rally2 of long-time ARA competitor Cam Steely, making his RC2 debut alongside co-driver Leah Brisset.
Other RC2-class notables include Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell in his Mitsubishi Mirage R4, and ARA veterans Steve Bis and Kelly Keefe, who are trading their Open Four-Wheel-Drive (O4WD) class Volkswagen Golf R for a Ford Fiesta N5 as they contest 100 Acre Wood for the first time since a fourth-place Regional finish in 2023.
“I am very excited to head into the RC2 class with a new-to-me Fiesta N5,” Bis said. “My first 100 Acre Wood was in 2004, and it never gets old… I’m ready to hit the stages and learn the new car.”
While not part of the RC2 category, several O4WD entries—including Pat Moro’s LT1-powered Chevrolet Sonic, Arek Białobrzeski’s LS3-powered Sonic, and Micah Nickleson’s highly modified 1986 Volkswagen Golf—will look to challenge the broader National field on Missouri’s fast gravel roads.
Sean Donnelly Hands Sean Johnston Rally3 Keys for 100 Acre Wood
ARA 2023 Limited Two-Wheel-Drive (L2WD) National Champion and inaugural 2025 Pirelli Privateer Cup winner Sean Donnelly was expected to follow up his second-in-class finish at Sno*Drift with a 100AW effort in the Argonaut Motor Club Renault Clio Rally3, but the imminent arrival of Donnelly’s third child prompted a change of plans.
Rather than withdraw, Donnelly decided instead to turn the Renault over to WRC2 driver Sean Johnston to once again prove his mettle on US stages. Johnston is three-for-three with a trio ARA class wins as many outings. Now entering the combined L4WD and Naturally Aspirated Four-Wheel-Drive (NA4WD) category—known as LN4—on one of its most competitive weekends to date, all eyes will be on Johnston to see if he can maintain the streak.
“My coaching business here in the US has really taken off in the latter half of last year and beginning of this year,” Johnston told DirtFish. “I started coaching Sean Donnelly primarily, but some of the other Argonaut drivers as well, in the lead up to Sno*Drift.
“It really does feel like there’s maybe a new page being turned in the ARA championship with more and more people committing to show up with FIA-homologated cars.”
While Johnston is normally seen with Alex Kihurani in the right seat, for only the second time in his career he’ll be sharing his rally car with a new teammate, this time Cameron Fair, whom he describes as a world class co-driver.
MINI Returns to Familiar Ground after Class Podium at Sno*Drift
MINI USA, in partnership with LAP Motorsports (also known as the John Cooper Works Race Team), returns to competition at 100 Acre Wood following an Open Two-Wheel-Drive (O2WD) class podium in the team’s first National outing at Sno*Drift.
The father-son duo of Luis and Cristian Perocarpi debuted the L4WD MINI Countryman ALL4 JCW and O2WD MINI Cooper JCW at the 2025 ARA Central Region Championship’s season-ending Show-Me Rally, where the Countryman earned a class podium. With several stages shared between the Show-Me regional and 100 Acre Wood, the team will compete on familiar roads for the first time since MINI’s return to the sport.
Cristian Perocarpi is unable to attend 100 Acre Wood; his co-driver, David Quillen, will step into the Cooper JCW driver’s seat, joined by Michael Myers as co-driver. Luis Perocarpi continues in the Countryman ALL4 JCW with Carlos Schrunder alongside after their strong showing at Sno*Drift.
As MINI expands its rally involvement, the manufacturer recently unveiled the 2026 MINI Cooper John Cooper Works 1965 Victory Edition, commemorating Timo Mäkinen and Paul Easter’s iconic 1965 Rallye Monte Carlo victory.
Raftery Returns to Battle Pastrana, Piatkowski, Perocarpi, and More in LN4
The LN4 class adds further intrigue to the fight for 100AW overall honors. In addition to Johnston’s recent entry, a plethora of other teams have joined the ranks in everything from factory builds, to FIA-homologated Rally3s, to home-built grassroots machines.
Fresh off his second career overall victory at Sno*Drift, Mark Piatkowski returns to 100 Acre Wood in an Argonaut Motor Club–run L4WD 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. After the season-opening win in his NA4WD 1999 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS, the current ARA National Championship leader now steps up to turbocharged power as he looks to defend his points advantage.
“After my win at Sno*Drift, I found myself in the favorable position of leading the overall championship,” Piatkowski said. “I didn’t want to sit this one out and have any regrets for not trying. I’m happy to announce I’ll be in Argonaut’s Limited 4WD Subaru STI. The goal will be to continue my lead in the overall championship.”
Among those standing in his way is Irish driver Aoife Raftery, who returns to ARA competition representing the DirtFish Women in Motorsport program. After securing an overall podium at Overmountain Rally Tennessee in 2025 aboard a Ford Fiesta Rally3, Raftery rejoins the LN4 fight with co-driver Ditte Kammersgaard.
“I’m really excited to get the chance to come back and compete in the series and to continue representing the DirtFish Women in Motorsport Driver Program,” Raftery told DirtFish. “Definitely the targets are always high, and it won’t change for this rally… the goal is to have a strong result and hopefully get back on the podium.”
Subaru Motorsports USA (SMSUSA) also remains a major factor. Travis Pastrana and Rhianon Gelsomino bring the WRX ARA25L to Missouri for its first appearance on 100 Acre Wood’s fast gravel roads. The duo has previously placed ahead of RC2 machinery and could contend for both class and overall results, but it’ll be extra challenging at 100AW due to the high-speed nature of the stages.
“100 Acre Wood is one of the most challenging rallies in the championship for me,” Pastrana said. “When I’ve been in position to win, I always seemed to find trouble.”
The LN4 field also features 2025 championship runners-up Madelyn Tabor and Sophia McKee, who begin their 2026 campaign in a “hand-me-down” 2003 Subaru WRX STI that was previously wheeled by Madelyn’s aunt, Kristen, and grandmother, Jan. The pair had planned to enter a newly arrived Steven Redd Racing–prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3 at 100AW, but Customs delays meant the car wasn’t quite ready for action.
“Our goals for this rally are to find a good flow and get back into the swing of things, and of course to finish and score points,” Tabor said. “The LN4 class is looking stacked this year.”
Roberto Yglesias, the 2021 L2 Cup Champion (a support points series for L2WD before the class adopted a full National Championship), continues his progression through the ARA ranks with a move into an L4WD Steven Redd Racing–prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3 for 2026.
“This year and 100 Acre Wood will be a dream come true after about four years in the making,” Yglesias said. “Ever since I saw the Rally3 announced and the first one brought to the US, I knew I wanted to compete in a Fiesta Rally3, but it took some time to get here.
“I'm approaching this year as a learning year to really lean into a fantastic car, and through the coaching of Sean Johnston, who I've been working with in the off season, I hope to evolve and learn a lot.”
Luis Perocarpi’s MINI Countryman JCW also competes within the LN4 framework, as the team continues developing the platform in near-production specification.
On the NA4WD side, Jacob and Michael Despain (Black Hole Rally Team) return in their 2001 Subaru Impreza RS with ambitions of challenging the turbocharged entries. Eliza Coleman and Ryan Scott round out the NA4WD class in their 2005 Subaru Impreza.
100 Acre Wood Welcomes ARA’s First Stellantis Rally Cup North America Competitors in O2WD
Stellantis becomes the latest global automaker to enter American Rally as 100 Acre Wood plays host to the Stellantis Rally Cup North America. Open exclusively to Peugeot 208 Rally4 competitors in the ARA National Championship and Canadian Rally Championship (CRC), the Stellantis Rally Cup North America will honor the driver and co-driver with the highest points total across their best six finishes during the 2026 season—including the double-points-paying semi-final Lake Superior Performance Rally in Michigan and final Rallye de Charlevoix in Quebec, Canada.
Cash prizes and a Rally2 drive with respected French and Canadian motorsport organization Team FJ are on the line. Missouri-based Argonaut Motor Club and Team FJ, official affiliates of the Cup, support entrants by offering arrive-and-drive Peugeot 208 Rally4 rentals and technical assistance, lowering the barrier for drivers looking for a pathway to international rallying.
Current Stellantis Cup points leader, 18-year-old Vincent Lalande, will make his ARA debut after successful outings in Canada starting in 2024, including victories in the O2WD class at The Big White Winter Rally and Rallye Perce-Neige. Lalande and co-driver Simon Levac (son of Canadian rally legend Joël Levac) form the only all-Canadian team of the 100AW weekend in their Team FJ-run 208.
“It will be an adaptation for sure,” Levac said of transitioning from Canada’s snow-covered Rallye Perce-Neige to Missouri’s high-speed gravel roads. “Everything will come up faster, and it will take a few stages to adjust to the grip and rhythm of the notes.”
With the Stellantis Cup semi-final set for Lake Superior Performance Rally later this season, the team views 100 Acre Wood as a critical opportunity to acquire seat time and strengthen their partnership. “Our goal is to finish and gain as much experience as possible so we’re ready when it counts most,” Levac added.
New to ARA and making his Stellantis Cup Rally4 debut will be Daniel Shalev, a US-based driver with prior experience in UK rallying. Shalev will partner with co-driver Betsy Nguyen and receive full support from Argonaut.
“I’m excited to be rallying for a full season in North America and Canada this year,” Shalev said. “This will be my first Rally4 event, and with the support of my team and co-driver, I’m confident we can get a strong benchmark of performance.”
Returning to 100 Acre Wood for the first time in nearly a decade, Matthew Conte and co-driver Patryk Pietka bring experience, determination, and a forward-looking plan to the O2WD field. Conte, who has spent the past several years growing his Mountain Bike Lights company, is driving an Argonaut-entered Peugeot 208 Rally4 to gain seat time in a properly engineered 2WD car.
“We have a brand new Toyota GR86 that we are developing into a turnkey gravel 2WD rally car,” he explained. “We just didn't have enough time to finish it for 100 Acre Wood, so I’m using the opportunity to really drive the 208, understand it, and baseline the 208 to our GR86 that we hope to debut at Southern Ohio Forest Rally.”
The 11-car O2WD field also includes fan favorites like Seamus Burke and Gary McElhinney’s 1977 Ford Escort, current class leaders Matthew Nykanen and William Ross’ 1998 BMW 328i, and Richo Healey and Michelle Miller’s 2006 Lexus IS350.
In the Limited Two-Wheel-Drive (L2WD) class, Sno*Drift class winner Santiago Iglesias returns in the Escuderia Boricua Rally Subaru BRZ, this time with Cray Dumeah co-driving.
“Since everything went to plan at Sno*Drift, I'm very excited for some gravel,” Iglesias said. “We can count the number of snowbank hits on one hand, meaning the re-prep was relatively easy with this tight turnaround between rallies.
“I've only been to Missouri once, and my rally ended on a water crossing partway through the first day. This rally also has some very high speeds, which will be exciting to try with the additional downforce we now have.”
Iglesias’ strongest competition will likely come from the 2025 L2WD Championship runners up Henry Tabor and Dylan Hooker in their 2015 Ford Fiesta ST, but pressure from competitors like Ryan McGrath, William Tung, and more will keep them on their toes.
All-Wheel-Drive VS Two-Wheel-Drive for Regional Rights
Running alongside the National 100 Acre Wood Rally, the concurrent Super Regional event delivers two full days of competition for local heroes, minus the Power Stage. This year, 27 teams are entered for 12 stages of Missouri rallying action.
A standout on the entry list, the winged NA4WD 2000 Subaru Impreza Wagon of Ryan Rethy and James Dallman is among the favorites for the overall regional win after taking gold at last year’s event and at 2025’s Missouri Ozark Rally.
Close behind, Dustin Peterke and Robert Judge return to the same stages where they claimed their first victory, at Show-Me Rally in 2025. Now entering their second full season, the duo could be primed for their first Super Regional win in their NA4WD 2000 Subaru Impreza.
The NA4WD class also features five additional entries, including Ian and Hailey McCarty’s 2007 Subaru 2.5RS, Tyler Matalas and Dustin Sharkozy’s 1995 Subaru Impreza LX, and Brian Atwood and Kenny Michels’ 2002 Subaru Impreza.
Heading up O2WD is Mike Hurst in his V8-powered 1974 Ford Capri, marking his 45th year of rallying. The reigning Central Regional O2WD Champion finished third overall at the 2025 event, capitalizing on Missouri’s high-speed roads, which suit the Capri’s strengths.
After more than 30 O2WD stage wins in 2025, Hurst is aiming for another strong showing. However, 100 Acre Wood will likely be one of only two events for him in 2026. His usual co-driver, Randall Short, is celebrating the birth of his second son, while regular crew chief Katherine Hurst is deployed with the US Army. ARA Steward Michel Hoche-Mong steps in as Hurst’s co-driver for 100 Acre Wood.
Just behind Hurst on the entry list, Levi and Griffin Johnson return in their 1986 BMW 325 after finishing runners-up to Hurst in last year’s Central Regional O2WD Championship — and just one position behind him overall at the 2025 100 Acre Wood Super Regional. They will no doubt be looking to reclaim the top spot in O2WD, repeating their 2023 result.
The nine-car O2WD field also includes Sean and Max Burke in their 1991 Honda CRX, entering 100 Acre Wood for the first time. The father-son pair chose the rally after Sean asked Max to pick an event they’d never contested before.
While Sean acknowledges the challenge of competing in a lower-powered car on Missouri’s fast roads, he has earned class podiums at five of his past six rallies. He’ll also be battling long-time friends Michael Gillespie and Brian Kirby in their 1976 Ford Escort.
Doug Leibman and Kevin Schatz’s 1971 VW Super Beetle may not be the most powerful car in the class, but it made a lasting impression in the three events it contested in 2025. With an engine upgrade completed in the final week of preparation by Liebman himself, the former L2WD Beetle now moves into O2WD competition.
“The bug was such a fan favorite last year at 100 Acre Wood, Missouri Ozark Rally, and Show-Me Rally,” Schatz said. “So many people wanted to talk with us about the car, the motor, the paint, everything about it. I heard so many stories from fans about a Beetle in their lives and I realized just how many people have a ‘beetle story.’”
In L4WD, a tight battle is expected among the top contenders. Nick Balzer and Dillon McKenna’s 2004 Subaru WRX Wagon finished third in National L4WD at last year’s Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, but they are stepping back into Regional competition for 2026.
Peter and Michael Farrow’s 2002 Subaru Impreza DNF’d at 100 Acre Wood last year but has claimed overall podium finishes in three of its past four starts. Meanwhile, Scott and Elizabeth Crouch return in their 2002 Subaru WRX looking to rebound from a dramatic end to a near class-winning performance in 2025.
“Halfway through the final stage, we took a puncture and made the fateful decision to finish on the flat,” Scott explained. “While we made it to the stage finish, the damage from running on the rim made it impossible to fit the spare. With a 26-mile transit to the final control in Salem ahead of us, we leaned into the 'POR' [Press on Regardless] mentality and decided to go for it on the rim. It was easily the longest and most stressful transit of our lives; we lost our brakes just a mile from the finish, but the wheel somehow held together, and we finished the rally!"
After taking more than 12 minutes in penalties, the Crouches’ car dropped from first to third in class. Now, their focus is firmly set on a clean finish in 2026.
Three teams are entered in Regional L2WD: Tevfik Peker and Jamie Beliveau in a 2019 Ford Fiesta, Matthew and Richard Shinn in a 2002 Ford Focus, and Gregory Haley and Max Sutton in a 1994 Volkswagen Golf.
Finally, the two-car O4WD class features Drew and Cindi Carlson in a 1991 Audi 200 Avant, and Frederick and Leroy Jacoby in a 1999 Subaru Impreza.
Follow the action live on the ARA social media channels and on ara-rally.com.
~Mason Runkel for the ARA