Reigning champion Travis Robinson’s title defence has become official with the West Australian part of the latest bunch of entries for next month’s Wentworth Shire Pooncarie Desert Dash.
Serving as the opening round of the 2024 Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship, the entry list continues to build with Robinson leading a flurry of big stars.
Joining the charismatic 2023 champion in Pooncarie from Western Australia are Shane Elphinestone, who is likely to commit to the full AORC season in 2024, and Jared Percival, who is more than capable of winning events outright.
Robinson isn’t the only AORC champion entered already, with 2012 champion Matt Hanson to make his long awaited return to the championship in what will be his first appearance since the 2022 Tatts Finke Desert Race.
After missing the whole 2023 season, 2022 SXS Sports Champion Jan Wisse returns to the AORC aboard his Yamaha YXZ 1000R SE and will once again contend the class.
South Australia also has a strong contingent representing them in the season opener with last year’s outright runner-up Mel Brandle, outright stars Carl and Aaron Haby, and SXS Pro gun Lachlan Bailey amongst the big names.
Likely to battle Bailey for SXS Motorsport Australia Championship honours is last year’s runner-up James Mogford and fellow contender Glen Akroyd.
Also running in a Can Am will be Kate Swinglehurst, who is making her AORC debut behind the wheel and her brother, Tom, who returns in his Jimco Aussie Special pro buggy.
Entries for AORC season remain open for just over a week, with interested crews having until 11:59pm AEDT on Friday 5 April to register.
Crews can enter the event via the Motorsport Australia Member Portal.
The Wentworth Shire Pooncarie Desert Dash kicks off the 2024 AORC season on 19-21 April.
