Luke and Robyn Brandon #613 celebrated a career-defining breakthrough on Sunday, claiming their first-ever outright victory at the Emervale Short Course, Round 5 of the 2026 ARB Mickey Thompson Queensland Off Road Racing Championship, proudly hosted by the Gympie Auto Sports Club.

 

Brandon delivered a near-flawless performance across the weekend’s eight-lap format, mastering the challenging Esk layout in his DRELLs Run Racing’s Polaris Pro R to claim outright honours and the Class 6 victory, finishing 38.7 seconds clear of his nearest rival to secure a maiden outright triumph.

 

Conroy Devine and Robert Roles #606 continued their outstanding 2026 campaign with another strong performance, steering their Class 6 Can-Am Maverick R to second outright. Devine once again demonstrated the pace that has established him as one of the season’s standout competitors, while third-generation racer Lincoln Taylor #24 completed the outright podium after a calculated drive in the team’s Tatum AK47.

David Loughnan #104 continued his impressive season to date with a fourth outright and Class 1 victory in his Honey Badger, narrowly edging Darren Brandon #689, who completed the Emervale Short Course top five and secured Class 6S honours.

 

 

SPLITs Racing’s Jason Sait #674 crossed the line in sixth outright, and third in Class 6 after another solid weekend, while Class 5 victor Michael Ranson #507 produced one of his strongest performances of the season to finish seventh, just 28 seconds adrift of Sait.

 

Jayme Challacombe #838 claimed Class 8 honours courtesy of an eighth outright result, finishing just two seconds ahead of Ultimate Class runner-up Kel Kruger #44 in ninth, and Class 6 flyer Nick Pye #629, who rounded out the 2026 Emervale top ten.

 

 

In other results, Nicci Orr #1015 outlasted Piper Power #1060 for Class 10 supremacy, likewise Steven Kildey #484 who despite not starting the final section secured the Class 4 crown over Chris Vowles #498. 

 

Darren Foxcroft #6629 and Amy Vann #287 secured their respective titles, whilst Anna Phillis #624s and Leila Chapman #616s rounded out the Class 6s podium. 

 

John Moore #82, Travis Luscombe #520, Rob Chapman #571 and Luke Peterson #878 were others who collected Emervale silverware. 

 

Anna Phillis #624s drove superbly all weekend to claim the Ladies Class ahead of Nicci Orr #1015 and Leila Chapman #616s who snared third spot by an incredible point three of a second over young Piper Power #1060. 

 

 

The Juniors trophies were presented to Lincoln Taylor #24 and Piper Power #1060, while Jack Musico #6688 continued his outstanding form to snare his second Future Champions title of 2026. 

 

After watching a number of notables fall away on Saturday including Clayton Bestmann #96, Brett Huxstep #881, Matt Stampfli #651, Tony Butler #544 and Tom Darlington #63, Sunday also saw Steven Kildey #484, Rob Chapman #571, Richard Tassin #691, John Moore #82 and Nigel Pearce #6123 bow out over the three laps.

 

 

The Queensland Championship again acknowledges naming rights partners ARB 4×4 Accessories and Mickey Thompson Tyres, together with Link ECU, JSW Powersports, Best Western Plus Hotel North Lakes, Farm and Garden Polaris, Comiskey Mining Services, and Premium Soil Conditioners & Fertilisers for their ongoing support.

 

The 2026 ARB Mickey Thompson Queensland Off Road Racing Championship now turns its attention to the Moranbah Short Course held over the 18th and 19th of July.