While Team Toyo grabbed headlines at the iconic Finke desert race, Danny Brown was churning dirt at the Mallee Rally.
The second round of the 2014 ARB Off Road Racing Series (AORRS) kicked off on Friday night at Sea Lake in Victoria, with scrutineering bringing locals out to celebrate the start of the annual Mallee Rally.
On Saturday the picturesque salt-crusted shores of Lake Tyrell starkly contrasted with the alien-looking trophy trucks and buggies lining up to tackle the eight-kilometre prologue course.
DANNY DELIVERS
Team Toyo stalwart Danny Brown has this year stepped from a trophy truck into a new Jimco ‘Aussie Special’ buggy, motivated by an angry twin turbo Nissan V6.
Despite usual new-car teething problems, Brown’s prologue at Sea Lake last weekend was fast.
“We initially thought the qualifying course was going to be slippery from rain earlier in the week. We dropped the pressures in the Open Country Mud Terrains quite significantly to get more hook up.
“By the time it came around for our turn to qualify, these slippery sections had mostly dissipated and we found ourselves with plenty of grip for the entirety of the course.
“We are still getting used to the ins and outs of the new car but we were very pleased to put it on the front row, qualifying second.”
DROPPING THE HAMMER
With a strong prologue result, Brown and navigator George Apted headed out on a crystal clear Sunday morning, with the intention of victory against the backdrop of Sea Lake.
“Sunday was near perfect racing conditions. Glenn Owen, who was on pole, got the jump on us at the start,” said Brown.
Sticking close to Owen, Brown and Apted were within striking distance.
“We sat within 50 metres of him for the first 40 kilometres, until we hit the dusty section of the course.”
Choking on air borne dirt, sand and debris, the boys stayed at it, but with the front runner enjoying clean air, they were unable chase him down.
“It was a near faultless run, save for running out of rear brake pads 30 kilometres from the end of lap two. We ran second on course all day but got pipped at the end of the day by Carl Haby, who was able to make up significant time on us, starting the day off in 11th position.”
Recording a blistering total time of two hours, 46 minutes 47 seconds over four laps of the course, Brown came third overall and in his class.
While disappointed to not have taken the win , Brown was happy with a podium place and the performance of his vehicle.
“The tyres were faultless, giving us plenty of grip and confidence in the new car on massively varied terrain.
“This course is made up of deep sand, hard-packed dirt, white metal roads and some rocky sections, and at the end of the day the tires still looked relatively new and could easily go out and do another four laps.”
Toyo Tyres Riverland Enduro is rapidly approaching; Danny and his team mates are right now busy preparing their weapons of choice to attack the whoops of Waikerie.
