James Cook returns to AORC field

Photo: Show 'n' Go Photography

Victorian driver James Cook will kick off his 2025 BFGoodrich Motorsport Offroad Championship (AORC) campaign in earnest later this month, following a nine-month break from competition.

After clinching consecutive SXS Motorsport Australia championships in 2022 and 2023, Cook upgraded to the Pro Buggy class in 2024 and showed immediate promise, completing the Pooncarie opening round of that season in second outright.

However, nagging mechanical issues and a couple of separate rollovers culminated in Cook ending his 2024 campaign prematurely, retiring early from the Kalgoorlie decider.

“Everyone was getting burnt out last year. We were rushing into every round and everything was last minute in terms of preparation,” Cook said.

“It has been a nice break for the team and myself, everyone is keen now and we’ve all rekindled our passion for the racing. We all work normal jobs, so the hours are long and it’s not enjoyable when things aren’t going to plan.”

Cook and his navigator Mitch Autcote have confirmed they will return to AORC competition this season at the South Australian Loveday 400, held from 25-27 July.

“We haven’t really shown our full potential in that car yet. Hopefully we can clean it up and have a good run,” Cook noted.

Key to Cook’s rekindled interest has been a thorough review of his Pro Buggy machine, which has included an extensive rebuild of its wheel hubs and addressing some ongoing mechanical concerns, including the major culprit for his Kalgoorlie woes last year: a faulty crank angle sensor.

“The car never really been right,” Cook explained. “It ended up being a faulty crank angle sensor that ruined our weekend last time out. When we got home we tried isolators and different things, got the car retuned properly and they discovered that it was a crank angle sensor each time the power dropped out.

“We haven’t really had a clean run in the car if I’m honest. In Pooncarie last year, we had gearbox issues, which cost us the race after being 47 seconds in front. In Finke we had two big rollovers after pushing too hard. We finished second outright and third outright in those events, so it goes to show the speed is there.”

Registrations for the Loveday 400 are now live. Head to the Registrations portal to secure your spot.

Although he isn’t eyeing outright honours in Loveday – insisting he is more intent on simply completing clean laps than winning – Cook believes brothers Travis Robinson and Beau Robinson, as well as Kiwi sensation Boston Morgan-Horan will be the cars to beat.

Travis and Beau are currently running first and second in the AORC standings for 2025, with Morgan-Horan in fifth.

“We’ve pretty much got a night left in the shed to panel the car up and then we’re ready to go. I’m pretty keen to get back amongst it, I feel like we’ve been missing out and it’s been hard watching the Pooncarie and Finke rounds from afar because they’re our two favourite races,” Cook added.

“Loveday gets pretty rough. It’s a short track, only about 40-odd kilometres in length, so you can almost memorise the course turn for turn.

“I’ve been doing quite a bit of motorbike enduro riding with my navigator and mates to try and keep the skills honed. I’m keen to get back into it. I want to get out there and simply rotate without any issues and see where we end up.

“It will be good to jump back in and do the rest of the season.”

The five-stop AORC resumes with the Loveday 400 in South Australia from 25-27 July. Head to the Loveday 400 registration page to secure your spot today!

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