Steve Riley has set the benchmark time in the prologue which starts this week’s gruelling Australasian Safari at Glengarry Station.

The VF Holden ute driver was quickest over the 10.86km course around the historic venue. Riley doing this all despite struggling with a fused ankle foot injury.

“This drive was a lesson for us my ankle and I on how to get along together,” said Riley.

“We have a brand new car this year. We’re trying to do the Aussie ute thing, even built it from scratch with a few mates in my shed.

“I’m worried about being first out tomorrow. Being first out is often like looking for land mines with your big toe.”

West Australian duo Dave McShane was four seconds behind the Riley Motorsports Holden, with the Holden Colorado of Tony Quinn in chase.

American Quinn Cody was the fastest rider in the Moto category, and was pleased with his first Safari outing.

“Prologue was fun. I didn’t take any chances, and I didn’t make any mistakes,” Quinn said.

“Bike was good. Didn’t have much time on it before the event, but I’m happy as far as that goes.

“I’m a bit nervous for tomorrow, I hear it is going to rain and I didn’t come prepared – so we’ll see.”

Last year’s Dakar Challenge winner, Shane Diener (AUS) was only one second behind the Baja champ, but at the moment is more worried about fellow Yamaha Desert Racing team mate Rodney Faggotter.

The fastest Dakar Challenge competitor was Cesare Zacchetti from Italy.

The quickest quad time was posted by last year’s champion Heath Young. He had a couple of navigational errors trying to find the site of the Prologue, but said he was straight into the groove once the stage started.

It was a short day for some one of the SxS competitors when a suspected fuel leak caused the UTV racing buggy entry to catch fire, causing an early close on the Prologue for the day. Both driver Stratford Voogt and co-driver Chantel Bester were able to escape with minor injuries.

The quickest time posted before the drama was that of Artic Wildcat driver Garry Connell.

The Australasian Safari is known as Australia’s version of ‘Dakar’ and attracts top endurance motorsport competitors from around the world. Competitors face seven days of competition over 3,500kms through the Western Australian outback before crossing the finish line on Kalbarri Foreshore on September 27.

VIDEO: Prologue coverage