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 | Australasian Safari: Entirely new course in 2012, Rally from September 21-29.
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The "Dakar of Down Under" will continue: The "Australasian Safari Rally" in Australia will take place from 21 to 29 September 2012. "We have an incredible field of competitors this year and I wanted to ensure they have every opportunity to plan for next year’s event and mark it in their calendars" said event-owner Justin Hunt.
Hunt was race-director until 2010, then in 2011 he bought the rally from the organizing-company ´Octagon´. "We will introduce a range of new innovations - including a "Safari Challenge" which will enable road going 4WD's to compete in the Safari."
For 2012 there will be an entirely new course and the rally will visit a number of new towns in some simply stunning regions. At this stage the event will be focusing on the Perth, Murchison and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia.
"Our initial course trips have been exciting and early indications are for a great course traveling some stunning areas of Western Australia" Justin Hunt added. "I did however spend three hours bogged on the beach a little close to the waterline, something that I triedvery hard to hide! Cant tell you where we were but it was hard going in the standard Toyota Hilux."
Ross Runnalls has been appointed as the Clerk of Course for 2012. Runnalls brings a wealth of "Auto" and "Moto" experience to the event and will also complete a full course and road book check prior to the event in 2012. "Along with an Organising Committee restructure and a fairly substantial course planning overhaul we are confident that this will resolve the issues of consistency that were experienced in the past" Hunt said.
Starting in February 2012, the organisation will asking a number of competitors to be part of teleconference focus groups. "We plan on seeking more opinions and sharing information (where no competitive advantage can be gained) to ensure we capture feedback and to share concepts and long term plans. If you would like to be part of this process please email me direct" said Hunt.
For the new "Safari Challenge" there are a number of strict compliance issues but its basically open to all 4WD vehicles. "Please read the details about the Challenge in the Pre Event Guide" Justin Hunt told, "the Safari Challenge is still subject to formal motorsport authority approval."
For the "Production Category" he announced: "We will again be including the Safari Production category as a stand alone category. Our initial talks with manufacturers is that this is their favoured format for competition and we hope that some new teams will join this category in 2012."
Some changes will be made in the "Cars A3 Category". "For 2012 Vehicles entering A3 will have a maximum track width and other conditions to ensure that they will a) fit down the course and b) are suitable for a unregistered vehicle permit" the organiser told.
For further informations, the organisation created a "Pre Event Guide Edition 1", which is available [ HERE ]. More informations about the rally, further results, videos and pictures can be found at the official website [ AUSTRALASIANSAFARI.COM.AU ].
2012/02/03 | 18:02 CET | ARTICLE: MR/SY/HS/HUNT
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