Entries for the second round of the Polaris Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC), the Wentworth Shire Pooncarie Desert Dash, are now being accepted.
This year will be the New South Wales based event’s second year on the AORC calendar after a highly successful debut in 2022, which saw eventual champions Ryan Taylor and Kye Floyd win their first national event.
While most of the event will be run in the same format as last year, there will be quite a few changes to the track as a result of the recent flooding that has occurred in the region.
Despite the floods, the race itself has not been affected with the course now extended to 106 kilometres, compared to its previous iteration at 92 kilometres.
Click here to view the Supplementary Regulations.
Clerk of Course Troy Bennett was confident crews would enjoy the new-look course.
“We’re excited to be back on the 2023 calendar and to welcome the best off roaders in the country to Pooncarie,” Bennett said.
“Obviously there have been quite a few floods in the area recently and as a result, we have had to make massive changes to the course.
“However, we actually gained more track distance thanks to the generosity and support of the landowners, who have allowed us access to more land, so we’re confident the track will be enjoyed even more than last year.
“Not only is there more distance, but it’s quite a spectacular view for the drivers with those areas significantly impacted by to floods now forming into some beautiful natural lakes.
“A big thanks to volunteers who have done an amazing job in getting the track to a great condition and can’t wait to welcome the AORC for another year.”
Like last year, the event will begin with Prologue on the Saturday morning, before crews take on the first section in the afternoon, which will be made up of one lap of the course.
On Sunday, crews will complete three laps of the course over the day with the event to wrap early in the afternoon.
Crews have until 5pm AEDT on Friday 7 April to enter the event and can do so via the Motorsport Australia event entry system here.
The Sunraysia Motor Sports Club are also on the lookout for officials to help run the event, with interested volunteers, as well as media looking to attend the event, encouraged to register by emailing [email protected].
The Wentworth Shire Pooncarie Desert Dash takes place in the town of Pooncarie on 21-23 April, 2023.
Photo: Gears and Wheels Photography
