Ellenbrook will once again become the focal point of Western Australia’s premier tarmac rally next Thursday evening when the Lance East Exotics Tarmac West hits the suburb’s closed streets for its popular twilight stages and family festival.
The four-day event, running 17–20 September, starts with a ceremonial flag-off in Forrest Place before competitors tackle Whiteman Park stages and then head north to Ellenbrook for three short, technical street stages totalling just 1.76 kilometres each. The compact course, lined with high kerbs that demand precision, has drawn thousands of spectators in recent years and will be accompanied by a community fair, service park and food stalls from around 6pm.
Scrutiny for the field takes place this Saturday at Ellenbrook Toyota, underscoring the suburb’s ongoing role as a key hub for the rally. Organisers expect one of the strongest entries in more than a decade, with cars ranging from modern high-performance machines to classics racing against the clock on closed public roads across Perth and the surrounding regions.
The Ellenbrook leg has become a crowd favourite precisely because it brings elite motorsport into suburban streets. Families can watch from the roadside, enjoy the festival atmosphere and see crews working on their cars between runs. Similar stages in previous editions have been described as some of the most spectator-friendly of the entire event.
Today, 8 September, also marks 20 years since Australian motorsport legend Peter Brock died while competing in the Targa West rally — the event that evolved into today’s Tarmac West. The nine-time Bathurst 1000 winner lost his life on 8 September 2006 when his Daytona Sportscar left the road on a stage near Gidgegannup. The anniversary has prompted tributes across the motorsport community, including exhibitions of his iconic cars, as fans reflect on both his extraordinary career and the inherent risks of closed-road tarmac rallying.
Tarmac Events WA director Ross Tapper has previously noted the strong local support for rallying in Western Australia. The 2026 edition continues that tradition with stages also planned for Parkerville, Kalamunda, Toodyay, Bullsbrook, Malaga and a city finale. Spectators are welcome at designated viewing areas; full details and maps are available on the official event website.
For Ellenbrook residents the message is simple: next Thursday evening the suburb’s streets will briefly belong to the cars, the crews and the crowds. Come early, find a safe vantage point, and enjoy one of the most accessible nights of high-octane motorsport on the Perth calendar.
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