Almost 60 crews have already signed up to this year’s Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race.
While the majority of the entry list so far is made up of West Australian based drivers, there is still a healthy showing from crews outside the state.
The biggest interstate name to feature on the entry list so far is Queenslander Brett Comiskey, who currently sits sixth on the BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC) standings, thanks to a seventh place in St George and top 20 finish at Finke in June.
South Australian Mel Brandle and co-driver Melissa Brandle have also entered the event with the hopes of building on their lead in the national Prolite class. The duo would be full of confidence after an impressive second place in last month’s Gotcha Glass Wynarka Enduro.
Another Queensland entrant confirmed for the event is fourteen-time Production 4WD champion Geoff Pickering and navigator Dylan Waterson – the duo on track to make it 15 titles as they lead their class.
Click here to see the current entry list.
Outside of the interstate brigade, the pool of local AORC talent is just as strong with the likes of current AORC runner-up Beau Robinson, last year’s Kalgoorlie Desert Race winner Shane Elphinstone and Brent Smoothy, all locked in.
With the event also hosting the final round of the Motorsport Australia WA Off Road Championship, a number of familiar individuals make up the 25 solely competing for state honours.
Leading the charge are 2021 Cochranes Transport Mid-West Challenge winner Steven Phillips, multiple event winner Harleigh Uren and Perenjori Rod Hatter Memorial 360 runner-up Stephen Ketteridge-Hall.
Also entered is Western Desert Racers Club President Dylan Nollas, who was excited for the event.
“We’re really looking forward to being able to welcome the AORC to Kalgoorlie and we feel competitors will get a real kick out of the event.” Nollas said.
“The numbers are pretty good for the moment and I think we should be able to get a few more big names from around the country, but I guess it will depend on the current situation.
“Hopefully things ease over the coming weeks and we can have a big event with the country’s best doing battle on a popular course.”
Entries for the event remain open until 27 September with crews able to enter here.
The third round of the West Australian based event will see AORC crews contest around 400 competitive kilometres over three laps.
The Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race takes place in the rural West Australian town of Kalgoorlie on 22-24 October.
Photo: Dakar Press Team Australia
