Travis Robinson and Paul Currie have successfully gone back-to-back in Finke Desert Race campaigns, following a “dream” win in the 50th anniversary event.
The overnight leaders were in a league of their own throughout the three-day event, emerging triumphant in Method Race Wheels Prologue on Saturday and Race Day One on Sunday before managing their lead on the 223km journey home for Race Day Two.
Click here to view full provisional results.
“It’s a dream come true. Just amazing. We stepped away from the sport for six years and we’ve come back and we’ve won the race every year since,” said Robinson.
“To come back together with Paul [Currie] and do it together was special, because Paul used to navigate with my Dad and it’s great. It has been a perfect couple of years.”
Robinson performed the ultimate mic drop not long after crossing the line, declaring this event would be his last in the Comiskey Mining Services Motorsport Australia Off Road championship.
Robinson bows out with an AORC title, two Finke wins, countless round wins and a lifetime of memories.
“I’ve done this event enough myself personally, and to have the two wins – it’s done. The championships are done,” Robinson said.
“I’ve accomplished it and we’re going to move onto other things: families and businesses and stuff like that. We’ll just support Beau. As this stands here for Australian racing, we’re done.”
Finishing second outright and securing their second consecutive podium was New Zealand pairing Boston Morgan-Horan and navigator Will Haddock.
The pair endured multiple car problems during the circa 450km ‘there and back’ journey, but were still fast enough to hold onto second.
“I wasn’t sure how much caught up to Travis, but we were past Deep Well, about 30-40km from the finish, and went over one of the crests and landed – the whole wheel rim and brake folded underneath the truck and snapped. We had to pull over and change it,” he said.
“We had no brakes for the last bit.
“I want to return next year and I want to win. I’m going to win it.”
Former Finke winner Hayden Bentley completed a triumphant return to the podium after debuting a new Extreme 4WD truck for this 50th anniversary event.
Bentley and navigator Viv Coe were in fourth position overnight, but moved into the final podium spot after Greg Gartner ran into car troubles on the journey back.
“I’m absolutely wrapped. It’s been a lean run up here for a few years. We’ve had some top tens but it has been a while since we’ve had a podium. It feels bloody good,” Hayden said.
“The whole crew put in an amazing effort for this year and the results are showing. It’s awesome.”
There were some fascinating storylines to emerge in the 50th running of Finke, including the last-minute inclusion of bikes and cars legend Toby Price, who was parachuted into Glenn Brinkman’s SXS for the event following a back injury.
Car issues prevented Price from finishing the event – and a high attrition rate pared back the competitive SXS field in the final day.
Waiting in the wings was Glen Ackroyd and Michael Price, who snatched the class lead on race day one, and held onto it to secure a historic maiden SXS victory in the red centre, ahead of Kane Jones/Jeremy Kempston in second and Troy Behsman/Anthony Milson in third.
“How good,” said Ackroyd, who also managed an incredible 12th outright. “I’m feeling awesome, this is my first Finke win. I came very close to winning Finke last year but didn’t get it. I was relieved to finish because it’s Pricey’s [Michael] first win too.”
Michael Zacka and Dylan Blake were first home in the Pro Buggy class, and good enough for fourth outright, Brad Gallard and Dean Keyes managed fifth and former winner Mark Burrows and Tom Burrows came home sixth outright.
Elsewhere, action sports star Robbie Maddison and co-driver Jake Williams finished a credible seventh – in Maddison’s first attempt at the race.
Ben Falk and Johnny O’Connor were the first of the Pro Lite buggy entries, rounding out an amazing event for the duo.
The Finke Desert Race marked Round 2 of the Comiskey Mining Services Motorsport Australia Off Road championship.
The four-stop championship resumes next month with the annual running of the Loveday 400.
