Jumping for joy at the Forest Rally Stage

12th July 2026

Annabel Heaton

Deep in the trees of the Goodwood Estate, the Forest Rally Stage presented by Subaru erupted into a high-stakes battleground as the field fought for a spot in the Timed Shoot-Out.

The sweltering July heat and fierce sunlight transformed the tight, winding forest track into a true test of nerve, with spectacular clouds of dust billowing into the air with every passing machine. Spectators watched in awe as modern, high-tech WRC challengers barreled sideways toward tree-lined corners, chasing the ghosts of iconic rallying legends like the Lancia Delta Integrale and Audi Quattro that had kicked off the day's nostalgia.

The heat on the track was matched only by the intense pressure on the stopwatches. Out of a massive 32-car line-up, the top five drivers were separated by a razor-thin margin of just 2.8 seconds, while a mere 0.7 seconds split the top four. The intense qualifying proved the shoot-out is wide open, meaning the rally crown truly could go to anyone in 2026.

Claiming the coveted top spot in qualifying was Patrick O’Donovan, who put on a masterclass in loose-surface car control to guide his Hyundai i20 N R5 to a brilliant time of 2:32.3. He was pushed to the absolute limit by David Wright, who piloted his Ford Fiesta R5 across the line just 0.3 seconds behind in second place.

The podium hunt was incredibly tight, with James Williams securing third in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, sitting a microscopic 0.4 seconds adrift of Wright. Tom Williams kept the pressure dialed up in fourth, hustling his Volkswagen Polo GTI Rally2 through the dust to stop the clock at 2:33.3, while rally veteran Ollie O’Donovan rounded out the top five in his Hyundai i20 N R5 with a stellar time of 2:35.1.

With the margins this agonisingly close, the Timed Shoot-Out runs promise to deliver a breathless, sideways spectacle as these drivers push their cars to the edge. Make sure to lock into the official live stream or secure your spot in the woods to watch the dramatic finale unfold!