Dale Martin has successfully secured consecutive victories at the Wentworth Shire Pooncarie Desert Dash, triumphing yet again in 2025 with new navigator Adrian Rowe by his side.
The Victorian duo navigated through thick dust and a rapidly deteriorating track on Sunday, finishing round one of the BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC) in a commanding position.
Martin and Rowe commenced the day in third place after a commendable performance in the first section on Saturday, maintaining their composure during the three-lap Section Two.
In a close second place, after over 400km of racing in Pooncarie, was the Pro Buggy team of Danny Brown and George Apted, finishing 2 minutes and 25 seconds behind the leaders.
Travis Robinson and Paul Currie finished third overall, persevering through electrical issues that hindered their performance throughout the weekend, ultimately earning valuable points in the AORC Championship.
“We’re thrilled with this result, and it’s something we’re incredibly proud of,” Martin commented.
“Our strategy for the day was to keep the car on the track, especially as the tram tracks deepened and tree roots and rocks began to surface.”
“There’s no room for complacency as competitors are always on your tail. So we simply adjusted our mirrors and got on with it. We didn’t let off the gas.”
Martin capitalised on the opening laps of Section Two when overnight leader Boston Morgan-Horan and second-placed Beau Robinson fell victim to separate setbacks.
A crash into a gate abruptly brought an end to Morgan-Horan’s race, while electrical malfunctions plagued Robinson and navigator Shane Hutt, who had been frontrunners all weekend.
In contrast, the #5 duo of Martin and Rowe emerged largely unscathed, embodying the off-road philosophy of letting the race come to them.
Pooncarie also proved to be fruitful for Joshua Ferguson, Joshua Wilson, and Jared Percival, who claimed fourth, fifth, and sixth overall positions, respectively.
The steady duo of Alexandra Howells and Sarah Corrigan also emerged victorious in the Prolite category, finishing a commendable seventh overall and being the first women to cross the line after a strong weekend performance.
One of the most intriguing rivalries of the opening Pooncarie weekend unfolded in the SXS Championship, as Glen Ackroyd and Lachlan Bailey engaged in a fierce on-track battle.
Ackroyd and Bailey exchanged challenges throughout the weekend, with Bailey being the quickest in the Prologue and Section One, while Ackroyd exhibited his speed in Section Two.
After four intense hours of racing, it was Ackroyd and navigator Michael Price who clinched the class victory by a slim margin of just 15 seconds, finishing 11th overall.
“We had a fantastic weekend with the car, and I personally had a blast,” Bailey remarked.
“During the first two laps, we were uncertain if we’d have enough fuel to complete the circuit, compelling us to be prudent, which allowed Glen to gain a minute on us. We really pushed it in the final lap, closing the gap by about 30 seconds, but it just wasn’t sufficient.”
The competition between Bailey and Ackroyd is sure to carry on through the next four rounds of the AORC, intensifying as Bailey becomes more familiar with his new Maverick R vehicle.
“The car is everything I had hoped for and more,” Bailey mentioned.
“I’m really enjoying driving it. I’ll pay extra attention to preparations for Finke, particularly regarding the suspension.”
AORC competitors are now gearing up for the second event in the five-stop series, the renowned Tatts Finke Desert Race.
The 49th annual Tatts Finke Desert Race will take place during its traditional slot on the King’s Birthday Weekend, scheduled for 6-9 June 2025.
Upon the conclusion of the final day of racing, the following crews emerged victorious in their respective classes:
Pro Buggy: Dale Martin and Adrian Rowe
Prolite: Ally Howells and Sarah Corrigan
Super 1650: Tyler Owen and Max Owen
Sportslite: Sam Bentley and Jay Mitchell
Extreme 2WD: Nicholas Commins and Ryan Galvin
Production 4WD: Norman Parker and Tyson Parker
SXS Pro: Glen Ackroyd and Michael Price
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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