Rentsch grabs pole at Tatts Finke Desert Race

Shannon and Ian Rentsch have made the perfect start to their ‘King of the Desert’ title defence, setting the fastest prologue time at the Tatts Finke Desert Race in Alice Springs this morning.

Rentsch completed the eight kilometre prologue track in a sizzling 4:44.4 in his Jimco Aussie Special Pro Buggy, 5.2 seconds clear of second placed Beau Robinson and Shane Hutt in the Geiser Bros Trophy Truck. Greg Gartner, also in a Geiser Bros truck, was third fastest.

Rentsch, along with a number of other competitors, completed a second run of prologue when yellow flags forced them to slow their run after 2016 Australian Off Road Champion Jack Rhodes rolled his pro buggy within sight of the finish line.

Rentsch had already placed himself at the top of the time sheets and went faster again on his second run, booking his place as first on the road when the 130-strong field heads off on the 226 kilometres race to Finke tomorrow.

Toby Price was forth fastest in prologue, setting up his ‘Ironman of Finke’ attempt which sees him competing in both the cars and the bikes. Finke first-timer Josh Howells put his Jimco Buggy in fifth after also completing a second run.

Rentsch was happy with the outcome of prologue this morning but admitted to being unsettled by the circumstances.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking seeing Jack rolled over and having to do it all again but lucky enough we were able to go a couple of seconds quicker in the second prologue,” Rentsch said.

“We were hoping to get a win in the prologue, conditions are really dry and dusty so it’s going to be a bit of an advantage, especially for the first 30 to 40 kilometres of the track.

“We have a long way ahead of us yet and we have some pretty big trucks behind us so I’m wary of that and hopefully we can get to Finke in first position.

“Each year it seems to get a bit rougher in sections… in the middle it’s probably as rough as it’s ever been and up the other end it’s been graded which probably suits us (pro buggies) a bit more.

“But anything can happen and we have to hold everything together and cross our fingers.”

The Tatts Finke Desert race, round two of the BFGoodrich CAMS Australian Off Road Championship, starts from Alice Springs at 7:45am tomorrow morning. Competitors will race the 226 kilometres to Finke, making their return on Monday, with the first car due into Alice Springs at 9:05am.

Pos	Class	Car	Driver/Co-Driver/Navigator	Time	Gap To Leader
1	PRO	33	SHANNON RENTSCH IAN RENTSCH	00:04:44.4	+ 00:04:22.5
2	X2WD	413	BEAU ROBINSON SHANE HUTT	00:04:49.6	+ 00:00:05.2
3	X2WD	410	GREG GARTNER JAMIE JENNINGS MARK HANNAFORD	00:04:55.4	+ 00:00:11.0
4	X2WD	487	TOBY PRICE JASON DUNCAN	00:04:55.5	+ 00:00:11.1
5	PRO	15	JOSH HOWELLS BRYAN ERSKINE	00:04:56.5	+ 00:00:12.1
6	PRO	7	MATT HANSON NIGEL PENDLEBURY	00:04:57.0	+ 00:00:12.6
7	PRO	32	MICHAEL MARSON CHRIS COLBOURNE	00:05:02.3	+ 00:00:17.9
8	PRO	16	TALBOT COX ANDREW NORTH	00:05:04.9	+ 00:00:20.5
9	PRO	9	JOHN HEDERICS PAUL. RIORDAN	00:05:05.9	+ 00:00:21.5
10	PRO	27	JOHN TOWERS BRUCE YOUNG	00:05:06.6	+ 00:00:22.2
11	PRO	89	RAANA HORAN KLEM CHRISTENSEN	00:05:07.7	+ 00:00:23.3
12	X2WD	418	HAYDEN BENTLEY COE VIV	00:05:09.2	+ 00:00:24.8
13	PRO	21	MARK BURROWS COLIN HODGE	00:05:09.9	+ 00:00:25.5
14	X2WD	441	BILLY GEDDES BERNARD GWYNNE	00:05:13.1	+ 00:00:28.7
15	PROLITE	179	SAM BARNES GRANT BOWDEN PETER BARNES	00:05:15.8	+ 00:00:31.4
16	X2WD	488	LUKE HALL SCOTT SAGE	00:05:16.7	+ 00:00:32.3
17	X2WD	492	DAVID FELLOWS GREGORY RHODES MARK BERGAMIN	00:05:19.3	+ 00:00:34.9
18	SXST	621	TOBY WHATELEY SIMON HERRMANN TONY WHATELEY	00:05:20.2	+ 00:00:35.8
19	PROLITE	155	LOCKY WEIR PADDY WEIR JACK WEIR	00:05:21.9	+ 00:00:37.5
20	X2WD	431	BRETT TAYLOR PETER TREIS	00:05:22.3	+ 00:00:37.9
21	SXST	697	PHIL LOVETT PAUL GUNTHER	00:05:22.4	+ 00:00:38.0
22	X2WD	447	MATT LOIODICE STEVEN SANDERSON PAUL WHITE	00:05:25.1	+ 00:00:40.7
23	PRO	23	PETER COSTELLO BEN BROOKS	00:05:25.5	+ 00:00:41.1
24	PROLITE	110	SHAWN SWAFFIELD ROBERT SWAFFIELD	00:05:26.1	+ 00:00:41.7
25	PROLITE	1	MATTHEW MARTIN KERRI MARTIN	00:05:26.3	+ 00:00:41.9
26	PROLITE	131	CHRIS BROWNING CHRIS CLARKE	00:05:26.5	+ 00:00:42.1
27	PROLITE	118	TAIT SVENSON CHRIS AFFOO	00:05:29.2	+ 00:00:44.8
28	PROLITE	153	ALAN DIXON JOHNATHON OCONNOR	00:05:29.4	+ 00:00:45.0
29	PRO	24	RYAN TAYLOR NEV TAYLOR WAYNE BELL	00:05:30.4	+ 00:00:46.0
30	SXST	698	PETER CARR MATTHEW WYNDHAM	00:05:30.4	+ 00:00:46.0
31	PROLITE	115	ALEXANDRA HOWELLS SEAN MARSDEN	00:05:32.0	+ 00:00:47.6
32	PRO	75	JUSTIN ANDERSON OWEN ANDERSON	00:05:32.2	+ 00:00:47.8
33	SXST	636	SIMON EVANS JACKSON EVANS	00:05:33.2	+ 00:00:48.8
34	X2WD	482	MICHAEL MAGHER DANIEL HOSE	00:05:33.9	+ 00:00:49.5
35	SXST	603	JEFF MCNIVEN ANDREW REID	00:05:34.2	+ 00:00:49.8
36	SXST	619	CODY CROCKER GREG FOLETTA	00:05:37.3	+ 00:00:52.9
37	X2WD	420	JUSTIN WATT DAVE HARTWIG	00:05:38.3	+ 00:00:53.9
38	SXST	659	BRETT THORN BRENDAN MC BRENDAN MCGUINNESS	00:05:38.6	+ 00:00:54.2
39	X2WD	442	TIM PICKFORD CHRISTOPHER GELLE	00:05:38.7	+ 00:00:54.3
40	P2WD	507	MICHAEL RANSON JAY DAVIDSON	00:05:40.2	+ 00:00:55.8
41	SXST	676	NATHAN CHIVERS SCOTT O’CONNOR	00:05:44.1	+ 00:00:59.7
42	SXST	656	CRAIG MCDONALD DARREN BARKER	00:05:46.5	+ 00:01:02.1
43	SXST	634	RUSSELL NEWMAN SARAH NEWMAN SARAH NEWMAN	00:05:47.6	+ 00:01:03.2
44	SXST	601	GREG CAMPBELL ALLISON CAMPBELL JOSHUA BENNETT	00:05:47.7	+ 00:01:03.3
45	PRO	60	BRETT LEWIS MARK JACKSON	00:05:47.9	+ 00:01:03.5
46	SXST	660	DEAN TERRY BRANDON TERRY	00:05:49.1	+ 00:01:04.7
47	X2WD	422	BRUCE MUIR MARK HENDRY	00:05:49.4	+ 00:01:05.0
48	SXST	607	GREGORY GUALANDI CARLO BORTOLUS	00:05:50.1	+ 00:01:05.7
49	SPORTSLITE	1065	CHRISTOPHER SOLLITT	00:05:50.3	+ 00:01:05.9
50	SXST	674	CHRIS UNSTEAD NICK SCALARO	00:05:52.6	+ 00:01:08.2
51	SXST	684	LUKE SHADBOLT ALLEN HENSON	00:05:53.4	+ 00:01:09.0
52	PRO	46	DAVID SPOKES GLEN HAYES	00:05:53.9	+ 00:01:09.5
53	SXST	661	MICK CROSSLAND STEVE WOOD	00:05:53.9	+ 00:01:09.5
54	SXST	666	ADAM BIERL NYREE BURMINGHAM	00:05:54.7	+ 00:01:10.3
55	SXST	647	SCOTT TYMKIN MATT DILLON	00:05:54.8	+ 00:01:10.4
56	X2WD	470	MARK LANCASTER JORDAN BRENTHEL SHAUN GEORGE	00:05:55.9	+ 00:01:11.5
57	X2WD	433	DAVID BIRD	00:05:56.2	+ 00:01:11.8
58	SXSS	6677	MEL BRANDLE LIAM BRANDLE	00:05:58.7	+ 00:01:14.3
59	SXST	617	GLEN ACKROYD ANDREW CASSIDY	00:05:59.2	+ 00:01:14.8
60	X2WD	446	DYLAN BLAKE GREG MCARTHUR AARON MCARTHUR	00:05:59.3	+ 00:01:14.9
61	SXST	644	JAY NEATE ALEX GRADY	00:05:59.4	+ 00:01:15.0
62	SXST	612	RYAN JONES CARL LIST	00:05:59.4	+ 00:01:15.0
63	SXST	657	EWAN MCCLUE ROB THOMAS	00:05:59.6	+ 00:01:15.2
64	PROLITE	181	STEPHEN BURROWS VANESSA BURROWS	00:06:00.3	+ 00:01:15.9
65	PROLITE	138	CRAIG PANKHURST JARED EWIN	00:06:01.0	+ 00:01:16.6
66	SXST	677	LACHLAN JACKSON MICHAEL SHIPTON	00:06:02.0	+ 00:01:17.6
67	SXST	688	JUSTIN MONTESALVO TOMMY MILLS	00:06:04.9	+ 00:01:20.5
68	SXST	681	JASON FLAVELL LIAM FLAVELL	00:06:05.7	+ 00:01:21.3
69	SXST	616	AARON PARKER RORY CLOSE	00:06:05.7	+ 00:01:21.3
70	SXST	622	ROYDN BAILEY	00:06:06.8	+ 00:01:22.4
71	SXST	626	STEVE MACGREGOR JOSHUA MACGREGOR	00:06:09.0	+ 00:01:24.6
72	SXSS	6633	ALLAN MUIR COURTNEY MUIR	00:06:09.4	+ 00:01:25.0
73	SXST	653	TROY BEHSMAN LUKE MCKAY	00:06:10.6	+ 00:01:26.2
74	SXST	691	BRAD CLOSE CALEB CLOSE	00:06:11.0	+ 00:01:26.6
75	P2WD	587	LINCOLN SHEEDY MARK SHEEDY	00:06:11.3	+ 00:01:26.9
76	S1650	230	TREVOR TAYLOR MICHEAL CRAWFORD	00:06:11.7	+ 00:01:27.3
77	SXSS	6609	BRAD GERAGHTY COURTNEY GERAGHTY	00:06:12.0	+ 00:01:27.6
78	SXST	699	DREW CALLANDER MARTIN CAMERON	00:06:12.1	+ 00:01:27.7
79	SXST	696	BRETT HARRIS JAMES SAUNDERS	00:06:14.9	+ 00:01:30.5
80	SXST	655	NICK JACKSON LAUREN JOHNSON	00:06:15.8	+ 00:01:31.4
81	SXST	648	BRENT SMOOTH MICK BRIGGS	00:06:16.0	+ 00:01:31.6
82	SXST	675	GRAHAM COLBRAN AARON COLBRAN	00:06:16.0	+ 00:01:31.6
83	SXSS	6649	HARRY WECKERT CAITLIN STEPHENS	00:06:16.9	+ 00:01:32.5
84	PRO	69	TIM BAKER CRAIG ANDERSON	00:06:17.3	+ 00:01:32.9
85	SXSS	6626	BRAYDEN MIFSUD JOHN LOVETT	00:06:19.1	+ 00:01:34.7
86	SXST	629	LUKE MORRIS PHILIP MORRIS	00:06:19.9	+ 00:01:35.5
87	PRO	78	KEVIN NOTT STUART BISHOP	00:06:20.1	+ 00:01:35.7
88	X2WD	440	LEIGHTON SURR THOMAS SURR	00:06:20.2	+ 00:01:35.8
89	P2WD	550	DAVID BEAVIS ANDREW RASK	00:06:24.9	+ 00:01:40.5
90	SXST	602	JEROME HAYDEN PHIL MCLEAN	00:06:24.9	+ 00:01:40.5
91	S1650	2531	HADYN VANSTONE CLIVE RANDALL NEIL VANSTONE	00:06:25.2	+ 00:01:40.8
92	SXSS	6644	ZACHARY MARSH JAMES CLARKE	00:06:25.8	+ 00:01:41.4
93	SXSS	6666	JASON WILSON TRAVIS MITCHELL	00:06:29.1	+ 00:01:44.7
94	PRO	28	DARREN GREENING SHANE GREENING	00:06:29.5	+ 00:01:45.1
95	SXST	669	PHILIP LORD DALLAS LINES DALLAS LINES	00:06:30.9	+ 00:01:46.5
96	SXSS	6669	RICK CHAMBERS PATRICK GERAGHTY	00:06:32.9	+ 00:01:48.5
97	SXST	693	DYLAN BEHSMAN JORDAN PAYNE	00:06:33.2	+ 00:01:48.8
98	X4WD	801	PAUL MALT MICHELLE MALT	00:06:34.6	+ 00:01:50.2
99	X4WD	881	NIIHORI TADAMITSU GLEN WESTON GRANT GELLAN	00:06:35.2	+ 00:01:50.8
100	SXST	679	NICK SMITH SHAUN BROMLY	00:06:35.2	+ 00:01:50.8
101	SXST	606	ROYCE GILL CHRIS BARGIEV	00:06:38.2	+ 00:01:53.8
102	X2WD	424	JACK MILDWATERS DEAN TILLACK	00:06:40.8	+ 00:01:56.4
103	SXSS	6680	CHRIS LAND DENNIS LAND DENNIS LAND	00:06:42.8	+ 00:01:58.4
104	X2WD	435	MICHAEL LYMBERIS DANIEL MORRISON	00:06:43.6	+ 00:01:59.2
105	X4WD	860	KEN CALLANAN NEV CHALMERS	00:06:44.8	+ 00:02:00.4
106	PROLITE	369	ANDREA PETERHANSEL EMMA CLAIR EMMA CLAIR	00:06:44.9	+ 00:02:00.5
107	SXSS	6607	TOM KENNEDY THOMAS FERREIRA	00:06:45.8	+ 00:02:01.4
108	P4WD	778	JODIE ALLEN BRANDON TAYLOR	00:06:48.3	+ 00:02:03.9
109	P4WD	701	GEOFF PICKERING DYLAN WATSON	00:06:51.2	+ 00:02:06.8
110	SXSS	6683	ANDREW CRAMMOND STEWART GLOVER SOPHIE CRAMMOND	00:06:53.4	+ 00:02:09.0
111	SXSS	6601	GARY TAYLOR NOLAN MACK	00:06:58.9	+ 00:02:14.5
112	SXST	627	RICHARD HACON SHANE HARTNETT	00:06:59.2	+ 00:02:14.8
113	P4WD	721	MATTHEW WITMITZ SHAYDON WITMITZ	00:07:01.5	+ 00:02:17.1
114	SXSS	6615	JESSE HUNTER BRUCE HUNTER	00:07:14.2	+ 00:02:29.8
115	S1650	217	PETER BAULCH MICHELLE BAULCH	00:07:17.2	+ 00:02:32.8
116	SXSS	6613	TARA CZISLOWSKI DAN CZISLOWSKI	00:07:18.9	+ 00:02:34.5
117	SXSS	6610	JASON KANE SHAUN HELBERS	00:07:19.4	+ 00:02:35.0
118	SXSS	6612	SIMON BROWN TIMOTHY WADLOW	00:07:57.0	+ 00:03:12.6
119	SXST	608	DAVID ELLSWORTH CHRISTINA ELLSWORTH	00:08:06.8	+ 00:03:22.4
120	P4WD	710	LACHLAN CASBURN JORDAN FIRLEY	00:08:09.5	+ 00:03:25.1
121	X2WD	455	MICHAEL DOLAN CHRIS DOLAN	00:11:21.9	+ 00:06:37.5
	PRO	17	LAURENCE SVENSON JANELLE SVENSON	DNF
	PRO	80	GLEN TOWERS JOHNATHAN BRENTHEL MATTHEW ROSS	DNF	+ 00:58:27.1
	PRO	91	JACK RHODES DAVID PULLINO	DNF
	PRO	98	RICHARD CRABB	DNF
	PROLITE	157	ROD VISSER	DNF
	SXST	605	BRETT COMISKEY COREY COOPER	DNF
	SPORTSLITE	1064	STEVEN GRAHAM DARYL GRAHAM	DNF
	SXSS	6639	JAKE WILLIAMS AIDEN WILLIAMS	DNF
	SXSS	6637	WAYNE CAILES PATRICK GARNAUT	DNS