The BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Cups are closing in as entry lists for both the Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race and Can-Am Loveday 400 begin to fill.

 

The South Australian based Can-Am Loveday 400 has already seen a number of BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC) regulars confirm their place in the event.

 

While most of the 23-crew field is made up of South Australian based teams, including 2019 AORC runner-up Roydn Bailey and 2018 runner-up Toby Whateley, a quarter of the confirmed crews entered will be making the three day trip from New South Wales.

 

 

Headlining those crews making the venture down will be Howells Motorsport with both Ally and Josh expected to race in their first event for 2020.

 

After having strong campaigns in the AORC over the past two years, both Josh and Ally are itching to get back out and compete again with the latter admitting they had thought their season was done.

 

“Josh and I had come to terms with the fact that we weren’t going to be racing this year, so to be given the opportunity to compete and now knowing we’re both racing in less than a month doesn’t feel real,” Ally said.

 

“We’re not really in it to win it and there isn’t really a game plan. We are going to treat it more like a test and shakedown for the cars because at the end of the day, we’re now getting ready for 2021 and whatever that season may bring.

 

“We have never done Loveday before so that’s going to be a new experience for us as well. It will be good to get used to how the little things at this event takes place like the setups and the pits. It can become a stress sometimes but now we’re going there this year, it will help us learn for next year.”

 

 

Ahead of their first outing for the year, there have been no major changes to either Howells’ entry, with Josh to continue running the Pro-Buggy and Ally to run in the Pro-Lite class.

 

However Ally has revealed they did make a number of changes to the cars’ setups in readiness for a big 2020 but have been unable to put any of it to good use.

 

“We did a lot of work between last October and what we though would be the start of the 2020 season but we obviously still haven’t had a chance at all to test anything,” Ally added.

 

“We’ve done some engine rebuilds and stuff like that. I hate to say we are prepared because things always go wrong, but the truth of the matter is that we have had a lot of time to prepare.

 

“With that said, we have really only been able to run the car up and down the drive way where we can’t even get out of first gear or accelerate, so to be able to get out and do a few laps is going to be a great feeling.

 

“Words can’t describe it. I am just happy to be racing again. I am super excited. It’s going to be surreal feeling getting back in the car.”

 

The Can-Am Loveday 400 forms part of the standalone Motorsport Australia Central East Cup and will run on 23-25 October at the same time as the Motorsport Australia Western Australia Cup which is made up of the Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race.