June 25, 2025
Production Cup pressure at boiling point for Bodie Reading
When Bodie Reading makes his first appearance for the 2025 EROAD Australian Rally Championship season at next week’s Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland, there is no doubt there will be a heap of pressure on the Tasmanian.
Since bursting onto the scene in a full-time capacity, Reading and regular co-driver Mark Young have managed to go back-to-back the Cup title, with last year’s efforts only requiring his four attending.
Having won the Cup twice now, Reading has opted to replicate his 2024 charge and compete at just four rounds this year, meaning there is no room for error as the WOLF Production Cup is made up of a crew’s best four rounds of a season.
“Our plan was always to do something similar to last year and tackle the final four rounds of the season, so long as we’ve got the funding to keep us going,” Reading said.
“Les Walkden is again helping us with a lot of things this year, like transporting the car and doing some maintenance work, while we have few extra sponsors coming on board which has given us the opportunity to complete.”
“The fact that we’re doing last four rounds means we can’t afford to have any issues otherwise it’s over for us. And that was what the same mentality we had last year.
“I am definitely under no illusions that doing only four rounds automatically adds an extra pressure of doing well and to make no mistakes.
“Our biggest advantage though is that this is our third year of doing these four events, so I am a lot more experienced and have a lot more knowledge of these roads.”
While he does have more experience and confidence in his own ability, there are multiple factors in this year’s championship that will make it harder for him to go back-to-back.
Firstly, Reading will be without Young for two of the four rounds and has enlisted the services of Brad Jones as his co-driver. The pair will get have their first run in the car together on the Thursday of the event during Testing.
Secondly, with Forest Rally winner Clayton Hoy and Rally of Canberra winner Josh Wiedman both competing and in red hot form, Reading is going to have his work cut out for him when it comes to getting a result.
“Clayton and Josh have both had really strong starts to the year, they have both wins in the board, which is something I don’t have, and truthfully, I have never actually beaten Clayton on outright pace before,” Reading explained.
“Add the simple fact that to give ourselves any chance of keeping the Production Cup title, we essentially have to win in Queensland to get back on level terms or else the title fight is already one, so there is real pressure to finish ahead of them.
“As for Brad, Mark had some clashes with the ARC season, and we used it as an opportunity to get Brad.
“I’ve known Brad for a couple years now and we get on really well. The friendship is there but we just need to make it work from a rally point of view.”
Next month’s Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland serves as the third round of 2025 EROAD Australian Rally Championship and takes place in Gympie on 25-27 July.