Two time ARB outright champions Danny Brown and George Apted #42 have commenced the STEEL-IT ARB Big Desert 480 in style, leading from start to finish on the first day of the 2024 ARB Australian Off Road Championship to hold a 4.46 minute advantage.
In dusty conditions, Brown who left from first on the grid finished 160kms of treacherous Rainbow terrain ahead of Western Australian Beau Robinson and Shane Hutt #1113 who are searching for a maiden ARB championship round win in their 7litre Mason TT.
Andy Brown and Danny Hardman #1142 surged into third outright on Saturday, finishing a mere 20 seconds adrift of Robinson courtesy of a tremendous debut drive of his new AWD Alumi Craft. 2023 Goondiwindi champions Clayton Chapman and Adam McGuire #15 crossed in fourth just 16 seconds off Brown; whilst multiple time Australian champion Mark Burrows and son Tom #21 rounded out the top five.
Simon Tucker #110 leads the way in Class 1, likewise Class 10 stalwart Steven Graham #1065 who continues his Rainbow love affair, whilst Peter Sibson #412, Jackson Evans #635, Darren van der Woude #554, Brendan Forssman #202, and Ross Newman #6681 lead their respective classes.
Notables to not finish today’s action included two time defending ARB champion Brent Martin #1, Jake Williams #1137, Heath Weedon #701, Steven Von Pein #422, and David Adams #1074.
Action kicks off at 8.30am tomorrow morning, with four 80km laps to decide a brand new STEEL-IT ARB Big Desert 480 champion.
By TC Media
Photography by Ratchet Off Road Racing Photography
