It is the jewel in the crown of Australian off road racing, and the 2025 instalment of the Tatts Finke Desert Race promises to deliver in a big way.

More than 100 entrants will field the cars division of the 49^th annual Tatts Finke Desert Race for 2025, in what serves as round two of the five-stop BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship.

Together with a stacked field of almost 400 bikes, car entrants will be vowing to be crowned the 2025 King of the Desert – appropriately held on the King’s Birthday long weekend in June.

There are so many talking points ahead of this year’s Finke race, but it’s hard to go past the showdown brewing in the coveted trophy truck classes.

Reigning Finke winner Beau Robinson will do battle with his brother, Travis Robinson – the 2023 AORC champion – in this year’s Extreme 2WD class and potentially for overall honours.

Travis arrives at the start line in Alice Springs with a freshly built Extreme 4WD trophy truck, meaning he will pivot from his previous Pro Buggy entry into the new 7.0-litre Mason machine.

Meanwhile Beau will partner once again with navigator Shane Hutt in a bid to emulate their 2024 success.

Elsewhere, 2024 Finke runners-up Brett Comiskey and Billy Geddes will share driving duties once again aboard their ex-Toby Price Extreme 2WD trophy truck, while Brent Smoothy, Andrew Commins, Nick Commins and the prodigious young Kiwi talent that is Boston Morgan-Horan are all chasing maiden Finke success.

But that’s only one side of the 2025 Finke Desert Race front-runners.

In the Pro Buggy field, father and son, Andy and Danny Brown will field separate entries at Finke after strong respective showings at the Pooncarie season-opener of the AORC.

They will have their work cut out, with Nic Hicks, Joshua Howells, Aaron James, Matt Hanson, Jared Percival and many others completing a stacked Pro Buggy field.

After missing the first round of the AORC in Pooncarie, Queenslander Glenn Brinkman will be hoping to open his points account in the hotly contested SXS Championship. Brinkman will resume battle with old foes including Glen Ackroyd, Lachlan Bailey, Daniel Challen and Greg Campbell. Ackroyd currently leads the SXS Championship after his Pooncarie victory over Lachlan Bailey.

In the Production 4WD, Americans Brad and Adam Lovell return to the red centre in a bid to go three Finke production class wins in a row aboard the Ford Ranger.

This year’s Finke event will also be a family affair for Sam Bentley and his two children, Hayden and Hannah Bentley.

The South Australian trio will run three entries, with Sam contesting the Sportslite category, Hannah in the Extreme 2WD class and Hayden steering an Extreme 4WD trophy truck.

The 2025 Tatts Finke Desert Race formalities begin on Wednesday June 4 with a Welcome to Finke Party at Lasseters Casino. The traditional Finke Street Party will be held on Thursday, while traditional scrutineering takes place on the start/finish line precinct from 4pm on Friday.

On-track action begins Saturday morning with the Method Race Wheels Prologue, from 6am local time.

That will determine the all-important starting order for Sunday’s Race Day one, where competitors will embark on the circa 226km journey to the remote Indigenous community of Aputula, or Finke.

On Monday, competitors will set out on the 226km return leg, finishing in Alice Springs.

2025 Tatts Finke Desert Race Entry List

Number	Driver Co-Driver	Nav Nav 2	Class	Vehicle
3	GLEN ACKROYD	MICHEAL PRICE	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK R 1000 CC
235	CLAYTON AGNEW ANDREW MOWLES	LINCOLN TEEGAN MOWLES	SUPER 1650	HORNET BUGGY 1600 CC
6144	CRAIG ANDERSON David Spokes	JAMES	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK R 333 CC
607	TAYLAH APOSTOLES CHRISTON		SXS PRO	CAN-AM X3 899 CC
622	LACHLAN BAILEY	NATHAN SRACEK	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK R 999 CC
52	ROYDN BAILEY	SIMON	PRO BUGGY	ELEMENT PRODIGY 3500 CC
31	KENT BATTLE	ADAM FRANKLIN	PRO BUGGY	ELEMENT PRODIGY 6000 CC
1052	PETER BAULCH		SPORTSLITE	ROCKA CLASS 10 205 CC
653	TROY BEHSMAN DYLAN BEHSMAN	HARRY	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK R 999 CC
418	HANNAH BENTLEY HAYDEN BENTLEY	COOPER JOHNS	EXTREME 2WD	RACER ENGINEERING TROPHY TRUCK 7000 CC
818	HAYDEN BENTLEY	VIV COE	EXTREME 4WD	RACER TROPHY TRUCK VR38 3.5TT CC
1018	SAM BENTLEY	BEN CHIVELL	SPORTSLITE	RACER ENGINEERING BUGGY 2.4 CC
433	DAVID BIRD		EXTREME 2WD	BENNETT CHEV TROPHY TRUCK 6000 CC
6104	GLENN BRINKMAN	JACCI HUGES	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK 990 CC
45	ANDREW BROWN	DANIEL HARDMAN	PRO BUGGY	ALUMI CRAFT CLASS 1 7000 CC
4	DANIEL BROWN	GEORGE APTED	PRO BUGGY	ALUMI CRAFT CLASS 1 3500 CC
6190	SIMON BROWN SAMUEL FERGUSON		SXS PRO	CAN-AM X3 RS TURBO 900 CC
21	MARK BURROWS	TOM BURROWS	PRO BUGGY	MONK FAB MF1-01 3498 CC
123	MATTHEW	JAY MITCHELL	PROLITE	MBR JIMCO AUSSIE SPECIAL 3498 CC
432	NICK BURT	ALEX BURT	EXTREME 2WD	RUSH TRUCK TROPHY TRUCK 6200 CC
34	KYE CAMILLERI	LUKE HENDRY	PRO BUGGY	JIMCO AUSSIE SPECIAL 5990 CC
651	GREG CAMPBELL LACHLAN CAMPBELL	TORI CAMPBELL	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK R 999 CC
626	DANIEL CHALLEN	KYLIE DENNIS	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 1000 CC
610	EDDIE CHIVERS	HARRINGTON	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 903 CC
677	LES CHIVERS BROOKLYN CHIVERS		SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 903 CC
670	NATHAN CHIVERS	ARRON TOPLIFF	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 903 CC
36	BRAD CLOSE	CALEB CLOSE	PRO BUGGY	JIMCO HAMMERHEAD 7000CC CC
434	BRETT COMISKEY BILLY GEDDES	COREY COOPER	EXTREME 2WD	TSCO TROPHY TRUCK 6000 CC
467	ANDREW COMMINS	ANTHONY COOK	EXTREME 2WD	GEISER BROS TT 7000 CC
479	NICK COMMINS RYAN GALVIN		EXTREME 2WD	BRENTHEL TT 7000 CC
296	GERRY COOP	TANYA COOP	SUPER 1650	TOYOTA HOMEMADE BUGGY 1600 CC
669	SHAUN DAGAN	JIM ZLOTKOWSKI	SXS PRO	CAN-AM X3 900 CC
63	TOM DARLINGTON	NATHAN WINNING	PRO BUGGY	MENDEOLA MRP BUGGY 6,000 CC
481	COL DESBROW	ROYCE HODGE	EXTREME 2WD	HOLDEN COMMODORE 6000 CC
153	ALAN DIXON ZACHARY DIXON	KRIS BOYLE	PROLITE	CUSTOM FAB 2014 3500 CC
486	MICHAEL DOLAN	NATHAN CADE	EXTREME 2WD	BRENTHEL GEN3 7000 CC
242	WAYNE DRIVER LEAH DRIVER		SUPER 1650	HORNET JDR26 1650 CC
682	SCOTT DUNN	DAVID STRONG	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK XRS MAX 900 CC
685	SCOTT ELVISH TIM WADLOW		SXS PRO	CAN-AM X3 900 CC
47	JOSH FERGUSON	JORDAN	PRO BUGGY	JIMCO AUSSIE SPECIAL 6000 CC
679	TERRENCE	TORI CAMPBELL	SXS PRO	CAN-AM X3 1000 CC
284	WAYNE FOLEY JESSICA FOLEY	KYLIE FOLEY	SUPER 1650	SOUTHERN CROSS MARK 3 1600 CC
638	ASHLEY FOOT	PHIL LEE	SXS PRO	CAN-AM CAN-AM MAVERICK R 1000 CC 1000 CC
96	ROBBIE GADALETA JOEL GADALETA	ALAN FENNELL	PRO BUGGY	JIMCO CHAMPION 7000 CC
454	BRAD GALLARD	DEAN KEYES	EXTREME 2WD	TROPHY TRUCK 7000 CC
132	JASON GIBBINS ASHLEY OLDAKER	DANIEL OLDAKER	PROLITE	SOUTHERN CROSS MKIV 3LTR CC
689	ZACH GUNSTONE	JORDI LITTLE	SXS PRO	CAN-AM X3 XRS 1489 CC
98	PAUL HACKETT		PRO BUGGY	RACER ENGINEERING SINGLE SEATER 7000 CC
668	JAMES HAGAN	LYNDA HAGAN	SXS PRO	CAN-AM X3 900 CC
134	DAVID HALL	COREY	PROLITE	MURPHY 001 3500 CC
7	MATT HANSON	NIGEL	PRO BUGGY	JIMCO SMU AUSSIE SPECIAL 3500 CC
639	JAMIE HARRISON	BRENDON PARRY	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 990 CC
85	NIC HICKS	CHRISTIAN	PRO BUGGY	ELEMENT PRODIGY 3500 CC
611	BRENDAN HILL	MATTHEW DICKS	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 900 CC
646	VAUGHN HOGAN	TREVOR TAYLOR	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 900 CC
609	GLEN HOUGH	GAVIN GRANT	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 RS 900 CC
15	JOSH HOWELLS	SHAUN HARRIS	PRO BUGGY	JIMCO AUSSIE SP 3500 CC
488	KEITH HURST ROBERT JAMES		EXTREME 2WD	GEISER BROS G6 6000L CC
93	AARON JAMES Tanner James		PRO BUGGY	ALUMI CRAFT OZ PRO 3500 CC
657	KANE JONES	JERMERY	SXS PRO	POLARIS PRO R 2000 CC
439	JAMIE KNIGHT	PATRICK BUGGIE	EXTREME 2WD	CHEV SILVERADO 6000 CC
655	ROB KNIGHT	MATTHEW	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAV R 999 CC
658	STEWART MILES JESSE HUNTER		SXS PRO	CAN-AM X3 RS TURBO 900 CC
60	BRETT LEWIS	JOHN	PRO BUGGY	BRENTHEL BUGGY 6800 CC
6138	JACK LIVINGSTONE	MIGUEL ILARDI	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 900 CC
773	BRAD LOVELL ADAM LOVELL		PRODUCTION	FORD RANGER 3000 CC
482	MICK MAGHER	BERN WEBB	EXTREME 2WD	TSCO AUSS SPEC TROPHY TRUCK 6 LT CC
6140	ZAC MARSH	RICHARD TASSIN	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK R 999 CC
834	DANIEL MCKENZIE BRETT COMISKEY	COREY COOPER	EXTREME 4WD	BRENTHEL TROPHY TRUCK 7000 CC
604	JEFF MCNIVEN	JAKE NICHOLSON	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK R 999 CC
6183	KEITH MCREYNOLDS	HARRY DAY	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK R 1000 CC
1088	CHRISTIAN ASHTON		SPORTSLITE	ALUMI CRAFT PROLITE 2500 CC
489	BOSTON	WILL HADDOCK	EXTREME 2WD	GEISER BROS TROPHY TRUCK 3500 CC
6681	ROSS NEWMAN	GARY TAYLOR	SXS SPORT	YAMAHA YXZ1000R 998 CC
2	JARED PERCIVAL	MATTHEW	PRO BUGGY	ELEMENT PRODIGY 3500 CC
702	GEOFFERY DYLAN WATSON	MARK	PRODUCTION	FORD RANGER RAPTO R 3000 CC
38	GARRY POVAH	DENNIS DUNCAN	PRO BUGGY	SS RACETECH HUSTLER 6200 CC
6149	KYLE REID	KATIE CHANDLER	SXS PRO	CAN-AM X3 1000 CC
627	JUSTIN RIDER STEVEN TEESE		SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK R 900 CC
485	DYLAN RIVER SHANNON LANDER		EXTREME 2WD	TROPHY TRUCK DESERT TRUCK 6000 CC
413	BEAU ROBINSON	SHANE HUTT	EXTREME 2WD	MASON TT 7000 CC
813	TRAVIS ROBINSON	PAUL CURRIE	EXTREME 4WD	MASON AWD 7000 CC
684	FRANZ SCHEMBERA	KAI SCHEMBERA	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 900 CC
58	IVAN SCHMOCKER		PRO BUGGY	SOUTHERN CROSS SC ELEMENT1 6000 CC
847	BRENT SMOOTHY	SHANE	EXTREME 4WD	MASON AUS 123 CC
1063	CHRISTOPHER		SPORTSLITE	SOLLITTCO 2015 2500 CC
606	TOM STEPHENS	TOBY STEPHENS	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 900 CC
48	THOMAS	KATE	PRO BUGGY	JIMCO AUSSIE SPEC 3500 CC
431	BRETT TAYLOR	PETER TREIS	EXTREME 2WD	JIMCO TROPHY TRUCK 6000 CC
24	RYAN TAYLOR	TIMOTHY BUTTON	PRO BUGGY	TATUM AK47 3500 CC
1001	PAUL TINGA	DANIEL KELSEY	SPORTSLITE	SOUTHERN CROSS MK 5 2400 CC
127	JOHN TOWERS	BRUCE YOUNG	PROLITE	JT LUSTRUM BUGGY 3500 CC
996	PAUL TUCK-LEE		PRO BUGGY	PMR PMR BUGGY 5700 CC
1057	ROD VISSER KODI VISSER		SPORTSLITE	ALUMI CRAFT CLASS 10 2.4L CC
6165	BENJAMIN WARD BODIE CROCKETT MICAH FOUNTAIN		SXS PRO	CAN-AM X3 TURBO RR 899 CC
654	JOSHUA WARD	JAMIE CRAFT	SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 1489 CC
659	WARREN WARD MICAH FOUNTAIN BODIE CROCKETT		SXS PRO	CAN-AM MAVERIC R 899 CC
165	LOCKY WEIR	PADDY WEIR	PROLITE	JIMCO 2000 SERIES 3414 CC
617	NATHAN WEISSEL	TIM DONNELLY	SXS PRO	POLARIS RZR PRO XP 925 CC
61	COOPER WESTERN CHRIS WESTERN	BENJAMIN	PRO BUGGY	RUSH BUGGY 6200 CC
6634	JOHN WHITE	JACK BRIGGS	SXS SPORT	HONDA TALON 999 CC
73	JOSHUA WILSON	DARCY GORDON	PRO BUGGY	JIMCO AUSSIE SPECIAL 3500 CC
51	MICHAEL ZACKA DYLAN BLAKE		PRO BUGGY	JIMCO W10 CHAMPION 7000 CC