The Team
Shakewell Racing is a privateer rally team out of Sydney: one driver, a co-driver's seat filled by whoever the calendar needs, and the crew that films, spanners and tows. Here's everyone who makes it run.
Driver · Sydney
Michael Chora
The one holding the wheel — and, by his own admission, the rookie of the operation, learning fast under real pressure. Michael went from tarmac rallying (2025 Targa New Zealand Production 4WD class champion, 6th outright) to a first-ever gravel stage at Bathurst in March 2026, and to an ARC start at Narooma four months later. Between events the cars live in his Sydney workshop, where the fleet is maintained by Ichiban & Shakewell. He documents the honest version of all of it — including the broken bits.
Co-drivers
The other seat
The co-driver reads the pace notes and the roadbook, and does the time-control maths while the car is moving. In 2026 that seat has been filled round by round: Jenny Cole on a blind Mitta Mountain Rally, Adam Branford at Barossa, Nigel Waters at Imbil, Heather Brumby at Marysville, and Brett Williams for the Great Tarmac Rally. What a co-driver actually does.
The supporting cast
Everyone else it takes
A privateer team is never just the two people in the car. There's the camera that comes to everything — Jemma films the lot, which is why every event has a story to tell. There's the workshop crew at Ichiban keeping three Subarus alive, and the friends who tow, spanner, spectate and occasionally supply emergency zip ties. No factory truck, no salaries — just people who love rallying making it work.