AORC confirms 2025 calendar and upgrades medical standards

Photos: Dakar Press Team Australia

The calendar for next year’s Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC) has been confirmed, with five rounds to make up the 2025 season.

Every round from the 2024 season will return to the calendar seeing the Championship visit five Australian states and territories.

Pooncarie will again host the opening round of the season in April, while the Finke Desert Race retains its regular slot on the calendar on the King’s Birthday weekend in June. The Loveday 400 takes its place in July, followed by the Gold City 450 in August, which then sees the Kalgoorlie Desert Race host the season finale in October.

Motorsport Australia’s newly appointed Off Road Manager, Campbell Smith highlighted that the 2025 calendar provides plenty of opportunities for competitors and fans to be part of an exciting AORC season that promises to be bigger and better, with an uplift in dedicated resources marking a fresh and more focused approach to AORC in 2025.

“It’s fantastic to see almost every state and territory in the country hosting a round of the AORC once again in 2025, a testament to the brilliant work and high standards set in 2024,” Smith said.

Smith is also pleased to see the introduction of medicals for all competitors aged 60 years and over, as recommended by the Motorsport Risk & Safety Committee (MRSC) and supported by the National Medical Advisory Committee (NMAC).

“The health and wellbeing of our competitors is of utmost importance and taking measures to mitigate risk in this sport is a key priority,” said Smith.

“The change also better aligns us with Circuit and Rally categories who work on the same medical requirements.”

Smith added that notifying licence holders of the updated medical requirements well ahead of renewals aims to reduce the burden on participants, allowing plenty of time for them to get checked by a medical practitioner, and comply.

“We are thrilled with the ongoing support of our competitors and event organisers as we get set for a big year for off road,” Smith added.

New National Medical Examination forms can be found here.

2025 Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship Calendar

  • Pooncarie Desert Dash, NSW: 4–6 April
  • Finke Desert Race, NT: 7–9 June
  • Loveday 400, SA: 25–27 July
  • Gold City 450, QLD: 29–31 August
  • Kalgoorlie Desert Race, WA: 24–26 October

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