MOTORSPORT: Australasian Safari - Leg Four

Day four of the Australasian Safari has mixed a challenging slog in the first stage with a fast-paced thrash in the second, as competitors wound their way from Gascoyne Junction to Carnarvon on the coast.

No servicing was permitted for either of the two stages, respectively measuring 133km and 156km in length. The run from Gascoyne River was pockmarked with rocks, creeks and gutters until the vehicles reached a newly-graded road at Binthalya Station. On the second stage competitors encountered red sand dunes and wide open clay pans, the latter posing a navigation nightmare for some.

Yet it was reliability rather than pace or navigation that played the biggest part in setting the scene for the next leg.

Autos
Geoff Olholm has extended his lead over Dave McShane, despite the second-placed driver taking the battle right up to Olholm on the first stage. McShane lost 17 minutes when his vehicle ground to a halt with just a few kilometres left to reach the end of the second stage.

"We took it easy in the beginning but Dave passed us in the rocks – his buggy is great in that type of terrain," Olholm said. "We then got lost, cracked a windscreen, and fell a long way behind him so we knew we had to work hard in the second stage and managed to catch up with his dust.

"We worked hard until he was out with mechanical issues. He's definitely a surprise package; it's a great little buggy.  I've really had to drive quick to stay in front.  It makes it so much easier for the next three days to have some time on Dave now."

What was initially diagnosed as a fuel starvation problem was later found to be a faulty circuit breaker in McShane's car. Fellow competitor Rob Herridge kindly towed McShane's car to the finish. Herridge remains in third place, despite towing McShane's car. Andrew and David Travis have a lock on fourth place, and enjoyed the fourth leg more than previous days. There was no need to change a gearbox during the leg, which makes it a red letter day for the father and son team. They've swapped out the car's transmission on two previous occasions during the event.

Les Walkden had a heart-in-mouth moment when two wheels left the ground at 200km/h, just prior to a corner. He successfully negotiated the corner, but near the end of the leg six studs sheared and a wheel fell off, taking the brake componentry with it. Walkden put the car back together but still had to finish the stage without brakes.

Motos
Rod Faggotter, on a Yamaha, has retained his lead.

"I made some navigation errors in the first stage – the course was pretty challenging in parts.   I let Matt Fish pass me as I was getting lonely riding on my own!  The bike's staying strong and I'll be pushing from here on.  Actually, I can't go slow as I'll lose my concentration."

Nevertheless, Matt Fish, on a KTM, was the fastest rider over the two stages, moving to within 19 minutes of Faggotter's lead.

"I had a good clean run and really enjoyed the course.  The first stage was quite tricky but finished with sandy and flowing and tracks and I'm a fan of that.  There was more of that in the second stage.  I've cut the lead a bit from Rod and now it's a fine balance between pushing and preserving.  I'm still trying to win," Fish said.

Behind Fish in third place is Shane Diener, on another Yamaha. After being struck in the ankle by a stick about 38km into the first stage, Diener is content with third place and hopes to retain that position to the event's conclusion. He says he would prefer to keep riding rather than having the ankle injury attended to, as it hurts less when he's riding than when he's off the bike.

Second-placed Todd Smith didn't even complete the first stage, due to an engine problem. Both he and his brother Jake appear to be out of contention now, with Todd expressing disappointment that attempting an engine swap from Jake's bike was fruitless, as they lacked the tools required. He doesn't expect he will be back in the event for the fifth leg.

Alister McRae (KTM) has praised the event's competitors for their bonhomie (when not competing throughout the day).

"It's a great atmosphere here in the bivouac.  Even though were fighting against each other, it stays on the course.  In between the stages today I stopped to change an air filter and Lee Stephens stopped to make sure I was alright.  We're all here to get the best result but we're all helping each other at the same time."

Quads
John Maragozidis remains in the lead, with Heath Young close behind, after catching Young on the first stage. The leader was unable to pass Young due to poor visibility through the dust.

Leg 4 overall results – Top 10

Auto
Olholm/Trigg – 15:22:43?
McShane/Hayes – 16:01:53?
Herridge/Hill – 16:30:46?
Travis/Travis – 16:36:49?
Jerie/Watman – 17:06:34?
Owen/Cairns – 17:24:18?
Walkden/Sheldrick – 17:33:05?
Schofield/Baker 18:02:55?
Bates/Schutz – 18:15:59
Garland/Suzuki – 18:39:43

Moto
Rodney Faggotter – 14:10:02
Matt Fish – 14:30:04
Shane Diener – 14:48:40
Alister McRae – 15:15:12
Lee Stephens – 15:20:27
Russell Scoble – 15:40:02
Ryan Ingram – 16:09:41
Troy O'Connor – 16:32:36
Ivan Erceg – 16:38:45
Tim Foreman – 16:58:09

Australasian Safari 2013

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