The only one of the eight events on the Eastern Canadian Rally Championship (ECRC) calendar to be held in the Maritime provinces, the Trout Lake Rally took place yesterday, Sunday, September 27, in Aylesford, Nova Scotia. The rally offers its share of challenges on magnificent roads. The 2026 edition was divided between short special stages to begin the event, followed by a nearly 17-km stage and two of more than 30 km each to conclude the rally.

After eight stages, the duo of Ryan Burrill and Mike Reese drove their Subaru Impreza WRX to victory, finishing one minute and eight seconds ahead of Cal Vandaalen and co-driver Meg Grandmaison (Subaru Impreza RS). However, Burrill/Reese were “only” in third place when they reached the final three decisive long stages, but they then raised their pace impressively through these sections.

Vandaalen and Grandmaison finished second, just eight seconds ahead of Blu Vandaalen, co-driven by Heidi Fennell, on a Subaru too. Ian Pearce and Gordon Sleigh followed in fourth place. Leaders of the rally at the halfway point, they gradually conceded time but nevertheless brought their Subaru Impreza RS to the finish, as did Jon Conrad and Tim Dine (Subaru Impreza WRX), who finished fifth.

It was less successful, however, for Nicholas Whaley/Raymond Whaley (Subaru Impreza WRX), Jim Theriault/Sonia Meadows, the only crew competing in an Audi, and for Paul Hartl, co-driven by Tabatha Wood in the only two-wheel-drive car entered, a historic Saab.

For its first inclusion on the ECRC championship calendar, the Trout Lake Rally unfortunately did not feature any crews from Quebec or Ontario among this year’s contenders for victory. Nevertheless, the event lived up to its expectations as part of the 2026 calendar, and the presence of competitors from other regions is being considered for next year.

The Canadian Eastern Rally Championship (ECRC) features eight events this season, spread across Quebec (4), Ontario (3) and Nova Scotia (1). The next event is the traditional Rallye de Charlevoix, in La Malbaie. With the grandeur of the famous Manoir Richelieu hosting the ceremonial start on Friday, its in-town stages on Saturday and its demanding forest stages on Saturday and Sunday, Rallye de Charlevoix is one of the major events of motorsports in North America. The 2026 edition will take place from Friday, October 30 to Sunday, November 1.

For more information, please visit www.ecrc-crec.ca

Photo credit: Bluenose Autosport Club

2026 ECRC Calendar