Beau Robinson is looking forward to making his Polaris Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC) return on the sport’s biggest stage this weekend.
The popular West Australian has missed the opening two rounds of the season after shifting his full focus on one race that has eluded him in the past – the iconic Tatts Finke Desert Race.
Having come close to a win on multiple occasions Robinson has still yet to claim that victory, but has still picked up podiums along the way.
However, this year could be his best opportunity with his truck fresh from not having done any events so far and Robinson himself feeling good ahead of the three-day race from Alice Springs to Finke.
“We have taken a different approach into Finke this year and even though we haven’t done any of the other AORC rounds, I think we’re in a very good position,” Robinson said.
“The truck looks and feels good and there aren’t any mechanical dramas that we have come across in testing, so I think not putting it through the ringer in the lead up has helped.
“We can definitely win this event and we have proved it before. Our driving isn’t the issue – it’s mainly reliability. There have been quite a few times that we have been leading the event but the truck has broken down on the final day.
“It has been frustrating, but I know that the win will happen one day and it will be all the sweeter when it does.”
A regular face in the AORC, Robinson has usually contested every round in the lead up to Finke, which makes this year so different and could have a positive effect on his chances.
However, while Beau has sat on the sidelines, there has been a different Robinson wreaking havoc on the championship – his younger brother Travis.
Currently leading the AORC after two rounds, Travis’ original goal was to use the first two rounds to prepare for this weekend, but two podiums has slightly shifted his focus to keep one eye on the championship – a remarkable effort considering he hadn’t raced in five years.
Should Travis win, it would be the first time in the Robinson family’s long and fabled history in the AORC that they have won a national title.
Despite Travis being in a unique position though, it wouldn’t stop Beau from trying to win Finke – even if it meant doing it at brother’s expense.
“I’m obviously extremely happy for Trav having such a good season so far – he has done an awesome job,” Beau added.
“We have been supporting him from afar and helping whenever we can. It may be a surprise for some, but for us, we always knew he was good enough to fight for a title.
“With that said, he is a rival this weekend and I will be doing everything I can to win it myself – but I hope he does well.
“I can also use his championship aspirations to my advantage because he obviously wants to win that, so there may be those thoughts in the back of his head to not go as hard and take it easy.
“In saying that, I will do anything in my power to help Travis win the championship and Finke for that matter.
“Knowing Trav though, he will probably go just as hard as me so it should be a good weekend.”
The Tatts Finke Desert Race takes place between Alice Springs and the Aputula Community (Finke) on 9-12 June.
