Dust flies at the Riverland Enduro.
An extended prologue track, now covering 11 kilometres of fast and rocky track offered a challenge for almost 100 racers qualifying for today's AORC show down.
In front of a massive crowd, drivers didn’t disappoint.
Hometown hero Brad Gallard and the PKMS #454 lead the trophy truck class following a clean 6:13.14 run for 13th outright. The TRD V8 boomed as Brad manoeuvred through the tight prologue course.
Brad spearheads Team Toyo into tomorrows race.
Greg Gartner chased the #454 in with a 14th outright and second in class, just two seconds off the pace of the Gallard piloted cruise missile.
“We had a clean run, we were reasonably cautious because it’s a new track, but tomorrow will be great,” said Gartner.
After prologue the #410 swapped over to out a set of new rear M/T-R’s that saw the truck through a finish at Finke, a podium in Moorex and a hard mornings qualifying.
“We could run them tomorrow, but its game on!”
Hayden Bentley, also running on 39” Open Country M/T-R’s is racking up hours in the NASCAR powered Racer Engineering TT, hoping to wind the truck out to top speed tomorrow.
“The only thing holding the truck back is me. It has all the go, with more seat time it will be a weapon. It will definitely go the distance in the race, prologue and the race proper are two different things entirely” said Bentley.
In the hyper-competitive Pro-Buggy class, #23 came in 22nd with Macca Kittle keeping it in shape over skatey rocks and through mallee scrub for a comfortable start.
“We are ready for a big day tomorrow” said Macca. “We will get out there and make up some places”
With 400 kilometres of skatey rock, twisty turns and galloping straights to follow, we wish Team Toyo happy hunting!
