🌲 Dust and Diagrams: Tall Pines' Treachery – A 2025 Deep Dive
The Challenge of the Pines: Structure and Strategy
The Novus Automotive Rally of the Tall Pines 2025 held in Bancroft, Ontario, on November 21st and 22nd, was a masterclass in challenging Canadian performance rally. Known for its notoriously unpredictable late-fall conditions—a cruel mix of gravel, frozen rutted ice, and soft snow—the event demands absolute precision, strategic tire choices, and an unwavering commitment from over 200 dedicated volunteers.
The rally officially runs across two days, though the competitive action is a grueling marathon on Saturday.
Friday: Recce & Shake Down: Teams and their massive support crews (often family, friends, and even some volunteers gaining academic credit) used Friday for technical inspection, reconnaissance (recce), and a night-time shakedown stage.
Saturday: Race Day: A massive 170 km across 16 competitive stages, spanning from the 9:00 AM start well into the night. The regional rally concluded by 5:00 PM, but the national event pushed through an additional six stages, concluding under the cover of darkness around 10:00 PM.
Organizing such an event is an immense logistical feat. Event organizer, Bruce Leonard and his team spent countless hours securing permissions from local municipalities and the Ministry of Natural Resources—a testament to the effort required to legally close these daily-use southern Ontario roads for high-speed racing.
💥 Nightfall, Ice, and Air Time: Media Perspective
Being embedded within the Media 1 group—collaborating with journalist Murat Gunarslan, Elif Gunarslan, and KWRC veteran Jeff Lantz—provided a unique vantage point on the action. After our plan was approved by the event coordinator, Ross Wood, our day started with the intensity of the shake down stage.
Note: Below, I've shared just a few snapshots. I've compiled a full collection of my favorite photos of all cars from the event that can be viewed in the gallery at the end of the article.
Standing stage-side for that first night stage was a truly visceral experience. The darkness amplifies every sensation: the distant, mounting roar of the engine; the sudden, blinding appearance of the lights; and the stunning sight of rally cars hitting a crest airborne.
Diagram 1: The Tall Pines Night Stage Experience
Aural Input: High-decibel, high-revving engine note approaching.
Visual Input: Ultra-bright light pod cutting through the pitch black.
Kinetic Event: Car cresting at speed, appearing briefly airborne before seemingly "falling into the darkness."
The Treachery of Old Detlor
Saturday morning began on Stage A2 at the Hastings Trail Crossing. This section, particularly the narrow and icy Old Detlor Road, required extreme driver discipline.
Unfortunately, the punishing conditions claimed an early victim. Car 67, Perron / Zigby, slid wide on a sharp left turn, a costly trip into the ditch that ultimately led to a mechanical DNF.
Bonfires and Big Jumps
The atmosphere shifted by Stage A4 in Detlor. Here, the rally became a community event. Homeowners and dedicated fans lined the stage, especially at the Detlor crossing. This area became a showcase of car control as teams demonstrated spectacular drifts through the intersection.
Many fans, arriving by truck, quad, or foot, kept warm around bonfires, cheering on the teams as they entered town and hit some impressive jumps.
These jumps delivered spectacular Dust and Diagrams photo opportunities.
Car 84 Jeremie Thibeault & Justin Thibeault
The Testing Grounds of Old Hastings
My afternoon location on Lower Old Hastings was where championship hopes are often made or broken. This section was a technical microcosm of the Tall Pines conditions: varying surfaces of snow, ice, open gravel, and soft ground demanding perfect pace notes.
Deep in the woods near an old hunting cabin, my location offered views of multiple jumps leading into a high-speed corner. We were joined by a few dedicated spectators, including past Tall Pines victor Frank Sprongl—a testament to the stage's legendary status.
The notorious Old Hastings exacted a terrible price later in the day. Car 321, Pougnet / Rouleau, suffered a catastrophic accident. Though the team was thankfully OK after surviving a rattling 10G impact, the damage to their car was too severe for repair, ending their season.
🏆 The Podium Battle: A Game of Seconds
Heading into the final evening stages, the intensity was palpable. Co-driver Ian Lantz shared a glimpse into his team’s strategy. Drake/Lantz had suffered a devastating flat tire on Stage B9, forcing a high-stakes decision.
To push for a potential podium, they gambled on running a Super Soft Gravel tire compound for the final stages. This choice provided better durability and grip on the gravel sections, accepting less grip on the remaining ice—a shrewd move that paid off.
They secured a well-deserved third-place podium, narrowly missing second place by just 4 seconds to the team of Simon Vincent / Hubert Gaudreau.
Tall Pines 2025: Final Standings (National Event)
The team to beat was undeniably Car 399, Ricardo Cordero and Marco Hernandez in their Citroen C-3, who dominated the event with a winning margin of over 3 minutes!
Also of note, the legendary rally name of L'Estage returned to form with Charles and Juliette L'Estage (Car 12) securing 6th Overall and taking the 1st in Class (2WD) victory, eclipsing the team of Mikael Arsenault / Matt Belhacene.
📈 Championship Showdown
With this vital victory, Ricardo Cordero now heads into the final event of the season tied with Simon Vincent at 84 points each! The championship will be decided at the upcoming Big White Winter Rally—a fitting finale to an incredible season.
The Novus Automotive Rally of the Tall Pines 2025 was truly an amazing experience—a perfect storm of extreme roads, dedicated volunteers, roaring crowds, and spectacular rally action. Congratulations to Cordero and Hernandez for conquering one of the most demanding rallies in the world!
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