The Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race has finally arrived with some of the state’s best off road drivers in attendance for the CAMS Western Australian Off Road Championship’s season finale.Touted as one of the biggest state events in the country, more than 40 crews are entered into the event, including BFGoodrich CAMS Australian Off Road Championship veteran Beau Robinson.
While Robinson is no doubt the biggest name in the field, it is Darren Agrela and Matthew Birnie who have the most at stake with both drivers in the running for the championship title.
Just one point separates Birnie and Agrela, as the former’s consistency has seen him lead for the majority of the 2019 season.
Click here to view the standings.
Standing in between both drivers and a potential WA crown are three laps of a 120 kilometre long course, totalling up to 360 competitive kilometres of mixed terrain comprising of dirt, grass, mud and sand.
With the defending Kalgoorlie champions John James and David Morgan absent from the season finale, 2018 runner-up Shane Elphinstone will be hoping to go one step further and win his first event since last year’s Inland Mechanical & Westside Insurance Three Springs 360.
Ahead of the event, Clerk of Course Daniel Rogers was thrilled with current state of the course, lauding the hard work from event organisers and support from locals.
Click here to view the entry list.
“The guys have done a lot of work on the venue. It was pretty good last year, but they have gone up another level this year and the course is sensational,” Rogers said.
“We have a significant increase in competitors numbers than last year and it’s a really strong field. Add to the fact the really good track is essentially the same as last year and it’s got the makings for a special weekend.
“As for the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder, the support from the town, local community and Mt Vetters station has been incredible and has made everything easy to do.
“Whether it’s through significant sponsorship in cash or in kind, people are going above and beyond. They want it in their town, they want it big, so they get make things happen.”
In what is a major breakthrough for the popular event, there will be five cameras set up through the 120km course, which fans unable to attend the rural town can watch through a special live stream on the event’s Facebook page.
Click here to view the stream.
With both bikes and cars racing, Prologue will begin on Saturday morning before section one takes place on Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning will see cars and bikes complete two more sections with the two disciplines to alternate on the course.
The Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race takes place in the rural town of Kalgoorlie on 25-27 October.