The 2018 BFGoodrich CAMS Australian Off Road season has given fans plenty of highs and lows to remember after what was a sensational year of off road racing.
After three rounds of intense battles, the arrival of new drivers and the continued brilliance of some of the sport’s great drivers were all part of a 2018, which was definitely one to remember.
Re-live the first instalment recapping the year that was in the BFGoodrich CAMS Australian Off Road Championship.
SVENSON BUGGY ON FIRE
One of the season’s lower points was during the Tatts Finke Desert Race when the #17 pro buggy of long time competitors Laurence and Janelle Svenson went up in smoke.
The incident, which happened around the 100-kilometre mark in the event’s return leg, saw the pro buggy catch fire when the reserve fuel tank pierced through the side.
While the Svensons was unable to save the car, everyone left the incident unharmed as the crew extinguished the fire safely with the help of onlookers and their son Tait.
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WET AND WILD RAINBOW DESERT ENDURO
The Rainbow Desert Enduro made its second appearance on the BFGoodrich CAMS AORC calendar and cemented itself as one of the toughest off road events in Australia.
Following the Championship’s season finale, competitors compared it with the legendary Finke Desert Race due to its gruelling conditions and endurance format.
In what was a great spectacle for fans, many competitors were unable to complete the 525km event, as Shannon and Ian Rentsch claimed the round victory and the outright Championship.
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THIRTEENTH CLASS TITLE FOR PICKERING
Off road stalwart Geoff Pickering set a goal at the beginning of 2018, to win an Australian Production 4WD Class Championship at 75 years of age.
By the end of 2018, the Townsville racer had achieved just that, his thirteenth class title in the Production 4WD category.
There is no sign of Pickering taking it easy in the future either, with plans to debut a new Production 4WD vehicle for the 2019 season.
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SHANNON AND IAN RENTSCH'S HISTORIC SIXTH FINKE VICTORY
In a show of complete class, Shannon and Ian Rentsch led the 2018 Tatts Finke Desert Race from start to finish to take home their sixth 'King of the Desert' title.
Fastest in prologue, and winning both the leg to Finke and back to Alice Springs, the father-son duo became the most successful car crew in the history of the iconic event.
With both Shannon and Ian set to go around again next year, the pair will be looking to further boost their legacy and win their seventh Finke title.
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