AORC confirms 2024 calendar

The calendar for next year’s Polaris Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC) has been confirmed, with five rounds to make up the 2024 season.

All five rounds from the 2023 season will return to the calendar allowing the championship to cover five Australian states and territories.

As part of the exciting 2024 schedule, the Wentworth Shire Pooncarie Desert Dash will now host the opening round of the season for the first time since joining the AORC.

As a result, this year’s season opener, the Markwell Group Gold City 450, has been shifted to the penultimate round of the year on the last weekend in August to combat the challenging weather conditions having faced crews earlier this year.

The Tatts Finke Desert Race remains in its regular King’s Birthday Weekend slot, followed by the Loveday 400 in July, while the Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race will once again remain as the season finale in October, where points and a half will be on offer.

Motorsport Australia’s Director of Motorsport & Commercial Operations Michael Smith said the new calendar provided plenty of opportunities for competitors and fans to enjoy a big AORC season.

“This is a national championship, so it’s fantastic to see almost every state and territory in the country hosting a round of the Polaris Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship,” Smith said.

“Each one of this year’s events have shown why they should be on the AORC calendar and that is testament to the brilliant work of our event organisers across Australia.

“Pooncarie has also been a highly impressive event since joining the national championship last year and I have no doubt it will be a great way to start the season, while the Charters Towers event in late August will be a perfect time of year for crews to visit Queensland and enjoy the newest event on the AORC calendar.

“Overall, we are pleased to be able to release this calendar early and look forward to a big year in the Polaris Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship in 2024.”

2024 Polaris Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship Calendar
Round 1: Pooncarie Desert Dash – 19-21 April
Round 2: Finke Desert Race – 7-10 June
Round 3: Loveday 400 – 26-28 July
Round 4: Gold City 450 – 30 August – 1 September
Round 5: Kalgoorlie Desert Race – 25-27 October