Change of scope for Safari

Organisers for the Australasian Safari, formerly the Australian Safari, intend to attract more international competitors for this year's event.

Despite the name change, the event will run within the confines of Western Australia alone, as it did last year (more here) and -- if anything -- will be concentrated within a tighter area around the Goldfields, Gascoyne and Coral Coast regions of WA.

This year is the 21st running of the offroad event and Justin Hunt, the event director, believes that the changes to the course and the promotion of the event will broaden its appeal to competitors from overseas.

"The course will see more competitive kilometres, with less liaison between stages, and this is a very important element of the re-design," said Hunt, explaining how the course could be contained within smaller areas, but encompass longer competitive stages with shorter transport stages.

"There is no doubt that in 2008 the competition stages will be longer and even more technical.

"The course will also offer a greater navigational challenge for crews. Competitor feedback is that they really love this element of the event, so we've come up with a route that will meet that need.

"While there will be some marathon days, logistically the event will be a lot easier for drivers and their service crews. There will be easier servicing requirements with greater control of refuelling, and several times where we are all in the same town for more than one night."

The event kicks off in Kalgoorlie on August 23 -- a Wednesday -- and the first competitors are expected to arrive at the finish in Perth on Saturday, August 30.

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