Isuzu Motorsports has taken a ‘steady as it goes’ approach to Day One of the 2014 Australasian Safari, with the starting order for competition sorted over a short sprint stage.
Competitors drove 424km north from the ceremonial start in the West Australian capital of Perth, to Geraldton, on the mid-west coast, for the cross-country rally’s 10km Glengarry Prologue which determined who will start where when full competition gets underway tomorrow (Sunday, September 21).
Sydney’s Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki will start seventh in their high-performance Dakar-spec Isuzu D-MAX ute, while Western Australia’s Adrian Di Lallo and Roger Pedersen posted 12th in their production-class Isuzu MU-X wagon. Thai teammates Olan Sornsirirat and Veerachai Thorangkoon will be 18th car out, in their production class D-MAX ute.
“You don’t win an event on the Prologue so there is no point in trying to be a hero on Day One,” said team leader Bruce Garland at the Saturday night bivouac in Geraldton.
“We all took it pretty easy out there and we’re all pretty happy with our pace. There’s a long way to go before the finish next weekend and if you push too hard too soon, it’s very easy to come unstuck.”
Di Lallo took the same laidback approach to the sprint, in line with his aim of taking victory in the production class and getting the highest possible result outright. He’s champing at the bit to get started.
“The car is going really well and feels strong and quick. I'm happy with it and think we'll do well in the production class.
“I’m looking forward to the event because the Safari stages are great – it's always a good course. I also like it because it's in my home state, it's well run and it’s a really friendly environment. There's a great feeling of mateship with the competitors, crew and officials. We also get to see some spectacular places in Western Australia.”
The 2014 Australasian Safari kicked off with a ceremonial start in Perth’s Wanneroo Showground last night (Friday, September 19) and finishes in Kalbarri (592km north of Perth) on Saturday, September 27. Between start and finish are seven days of endurance racing throughout the Western Australia outback with overnight stops in Geraldton, Murchison, Gascoyne (two nights), Exmouth (two nights) and Carnarvon. The event covers more than 3000km of sand, salt plains, rough desert tracks and dry riverbeds.
Tomorrow (Sunday, September 21) on the Utakarra to Murchison leg, crews will tackle three stages: the 88.48km Greenough River, 167.14km Murchison River, and 26.22km Murchison Oasis, before overnighting at Murchison which is a large agricultural region in central WA, 50,000 square kilometres in size.
It’s the only shire in Australia without a town and, according to the 2006 Census, the least populous local government area in the state – current figures suggest fewer than 120 people! The region is home to extensive mining areas – some active and many abandoned – as well as around 29 large sheep and goat stations, mainly family operated.
The three cars are competing under the banner of Isuzu Motorsports, a performance parts company owned by Garland and his long-time co-driver, Harry Suzuki. They also have support from Isuzu operations in Japan, Thailand and Australia.
The team is aiming for class wins as a minimum, and ‘first diesel outright winner’ for Garland and Suzuki, in an event previously dominated by petrol-powered vehicles.
Garland and Suzuki are contesting the event for the 18th time and have won it five times. Di Lallo has contested the event three times in the past, finishing each time and earning a class podium position in 2011 on his second attempt. He also finished his first Dakar in 2013 in 38th position outright, gaining 101 places from his start place with his Red Earth Motorsport team and the backing of Isuzu Motorsports.
Isuzu Motorsports spent several days last month testing the cars with a factory engineer, tuning the vehicles to the best possible capacity. The Dakar-spec D-MAX is now putting out around 200kW of power and 700Nm of torque compared to figures of around 190/600 last year, while Di Lallo’s MU-X is putting out around 180kW and 600Nm. Sornsirirat’s D-MAX, which Garland campaigned in last year’s Safari, is putting out around 156kW and 456Nm.
The team is also providing some technical advice and back-up support to two other Isuzu crews: one (car 115, MU-X) being campaigned by Garland’s long-time mate and another Safari stalwart, Reg Owen and co-driver Russell Cairns who will start 17th. The other is a Thai entry (car 114, D-MAX) crewed by Vorapot Bunchuaylua and Chupong Chaiwan, who will start from 21st place. First car starts at 8.36am WA time, 10.36am Sydney time.
Isuzu Motorsports also races with support from Toyo Tires, Royal Purple Oils and Disc Brakes Australia.
