Finke Desert Race: Father-son team claim victory

Reigning Finke and seven-time Australian off-road champions Shannon and Ian Rentsch have taken victory in the 40th Finke Desert Race, held in arid, dusty conditions in the Northern Territory over the Queen’s birthday long weekend.

It was the fourth 'King of the Desert' crown for the duo.

The duo powered their Pro Buggy class Nissan-propelled Jimco buggy to the outright win ahead of early leaders (and prologue victors) Jack Rhodes/David Pullino, also in a Jimco buggy. Rhodes had led for much of the event, taking day one honours with a time of 1 hour, 47.34 minutes to beat the Rentsch crew to Saturday's overnight stop by 1 minute, 26 seconds. However a blown tyre on the return run saw the crew slip to second as Rentsch recorded the fastest overall return run for a total time of 3 hours, 42.2. This beat Rhodes by 6 minutes, 39 seconds.

In third position outright was the first of the Extreme 2WD class vehicles driven by Beau Robinson, with last-minute stand-in Matt Hanson acting as co-driver. Their Chevrolet-powered Geiser Brothers Trophy Truck completed the two-day desert epic in a time of 4 hours, 2.33 minutes.

Toby Price survived a puncture and a damaged foot to take the overall bike victory aboard a KTM 500. Price's time of 3 hours, 52.54 minutes matched all but the best of the four-wheeled machines.

In the other four-wheel categories Shawn and Robert Swaffield took the Prolite Buggy class in their Nissan-powered Alumicraft buggy, running to Finke and back in 4 hours, 27.39 minutes.

Territorians Craig Prettejohn and Richie Hayes won the Super 1650 buggy class in a time of 4 hours, 50 minutes with their Toyota-powered Razorback buggy.

Shifting to the Performance 2WD it was the Daniel Osinski/Joe Butterworth Ford Ranger taking the class after reaching the finish in 5 hours, 54.13 minutes.

Jeff Pickering/Dylan Watson took Production 4WD honours after 6 hours, 29.12 minutes of competition in their Mitsubishi Pajero. They actually bested the fastest Extreme 4WD, the Holden-powered Toyota LandCruiser of Luke Ayers/Josh Attard overall, the latter recording a time of 6 hours, 38.40 minutes.

After taking a convincing victory in 2014, the Polaris team had to give best to the Can Am Maverick of Toby Whateley/Simon Herrmann in the UTV class for side-by-side vehicles. The Can Am completed the route in 5 hours, 57.06 minutes, beating the Polaris machines of Brent Perrett/Arlene Perrett and multiple ARC champions Cody Crocker/Greg Foletta in the process.