John Hederics has stretched his lead to 33 minutes on the fourth Leg of the Australasian Safari through ‘Tiger Country’ of Western Australia.
The course comprised remote countryside along the Gascoyne River, around the Kennedy Ranges, over dry creeks, claypans and fence lines. It finished in the small community of Gascoyne Junction where the Safari crew has increased the town’s population by 500 percent!
Hederics in the Holden Colorado heads the Production Class entry of Rob Herridge in a Subaru Forrester.
“We’re trying to consolidate now and took it easy, we were happy to let other cars go past us. We’re glad to be back,” said Hederics.
Rob Herridge said they had a rough day on the course.
“We decided to take it easy today so we wouldn’t make any mistakes with the navigation, but we still got lost,” said Herridge.
“When we found our way again we got caught in someone else’s dust, the frustration set in then we got a puncture but we made up time in the last stage to finish on a high.”
Nunzio Coffaro from Venezuela said today was like a movie finale! “There were three cars racing – the Holden (Hederics), The Isuzu (Di Lallo) and the Hilux (Coffaro). But we got a puncture during this time and we changed the tyre and caught up, then the
Isuzu got a puncture. We’re using different tyres tomorrow.”
Rachan Trairat and Peerapong Sombutwong in an Isuzu D-Max had a dramatic day with a rollover in the first stage. They were not hurt and the mechanics are working to get the car back on track tomorrow.
Moto
Today’s competition saw Jake Smith increase his lead, and Warren Strange – also on Honda – moving into second position after Yamaha rider Rod Faggotter was out of Stage 9 with wheel bearing failure. Vern Strange moved into fourth and continues to lead the Dakar Challenge competition.
“I had a good day,” said Jake Smith.
“The tracks were really technical, it certainly wasn’t easy. It was pretty cool when you dropped down into the range – the scenery was pretty nice.”
Quad
Quad leader Paul Smith said he had an awesome day. “I loved it. I got lost half way through the last stage, it was really technical but that’s the sort of riding I like – it’s keeping me on my toes. I saw two emus today and the scenery is just beautiful – I’m getting the full fauna experience!”
Leg 5
Tomorrow’s course continues in the region with a 147km stage to start the day circumnavigating the huge pastoral station Bidgemia. Competitors will face a rough overgrown run and flood damaged river plains with many sandy creeks and river crossings.
The huge 301km second stage follows a disused road including a stony floodway, fence lines, and hidden rocks. A highlight will be crossing the Gascoyne River finishing with fast flowing rally roads.
