MOTORSPORT: Hell of a week ahead in WA

Kees Weel in driver’s seat, rally ace McRae on two wheels
While Australian motorsport fans await the Bathurst 1000 in three weeks there’s an even tougher torture test before that.

It’s the Australasian Safari, an off-road marathon rally in Western Australia over the next week that is more than three times longer than The Great Race.

It won’t get anything like the mass media coverage of Bathurst. Indeed, it’s unlikely to get much attention at all on the eastern seaboard. Perhaps not even a lot in WA.

The 100 competitors in cars, on motorbikes, quads and now side-by-sides – with several times that number of people in support – have completed their final checks and paperwork at Wanneroo on the north side of Perth over the past few days.

Today the field takes part in a prologue to decide the starting order.

The prologue is a time trial on 7km of beach tracks on the Turquoise Coast at Jurien Bay, about two hours’ drive or ride north of Perth.

Then it’s on to the Mid-West region, through Northampton, Kalbarri, Gascoyne Junction and Carnarvon to the finish at Geraldton next Friday.

Last year motor industry identity Kees Weel co-drove the victorious entry in the auto category with John Hederics, but this year Wees moves over into the driver’s seat of the Holden Colorado.

Perth-based international rally star Alister McRae, brother of late world champion Colin, has swapped to two wheels for this event, riding a KTM 500.

The auto category includes regular Dakar Rally competitors Bruce Garland in his Isuzu D-Max and Geoff Olholm in a Toyota Hilux, Reg Owen and Des Harrington in Nissan Patrols, John Purshouse in a Mitsubishi Triton, and Les Walkden and Murray Young in Mitsubishi Pajeros.

There are competitors from Britain, France, Romania, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Thailand and the US – including women Amy Lerner and Tricia Reina in a Jeep Wrangler.

Two auto category competitors and nine in the moto category will be competing for a free entry to January’s Dakar in South America.

Stay up to date with the Australasian Safari at the event's website, on Facebook, Twitter - @AustSafari or YYouTube channel Australasian Safari.

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