By TC Media
Pics courtesy of Racing Fix Media
Zac Marsh #614 claimed a second outright victory of the season in his Can Am Maverick on Sunday at a dusty and warm McCosker Mt. Larcom Short Course, to finish the 2023 ARB Mickey Thompson Queensland Offroad Racing Championship in style.
Heading into the season finale Marsh trailed the DRELLs Run Racing crews of Darren #689s and Luke #690s in the title fight and was in need of a strong finish, and he delivered just that. The 2023 Federal short course champion would leave the Gladstone region with a dramatic 25 second Mt. Larcom triumph.
Having to overcome a 13 second day one deficit to the inform Richard Tassin #691, Marsh was at his brilliant best on Sunday as he sprinted to the outright win; leaving the 2023 Dalby champion Tassin as the Mt. Larcom runner up.
Class 6s victor Tony Patterson #6175s continued his tremendous end of season form to record a second outright podium of 2023. Campaigning his new stock SPLITS Racing Polaris RZR Pro R, Patterson finished 1.46 mins adrift of Tassin in third spot; adding to his Moranbah success.
Fellow Class 6s Polaris front runner Kane Prechelt #694s produced a career best performance at Mt. Larcom finishing second in class and fourth outright, one minute ahead of SPLITS Racing’s Jason Sait #674 who rounded out the Mt. Larcom top five.
Brett Baker #124 recorded his best result of the season with a Class 1 victory and sixth outright finish, outlasting the First Lady home Kate Swinglehurst #631 who made it four class wins of 2023.
Can Am competitor Paul Herviou #680, Class 5 champion Tyler Youman #527, and ladies runner up Anna Phillis #624 respectively rounded out the Mt. Larcom top ten.
In other results, Kelvyn Kruger #44 dominated the Ultimate Class, whilst Rob Stieber #1082 closed out a championship winning season with the Mt. Larcom crown, finishing ahead of Nicole Orr #1015 and Damian Cowdroy-Ling #1081 who rounded out the Class 10 podium.
Ross Newman #6681 survived Nigel Pearce #6608 for Class 66 honours, so too Colin Gaven #295 who crossed a mere seven seconds ahead of his Class 2 teammate Mark Andrew #295a, with Erica Hopkins #592 holding onto second place in Class 5 over Tony Butler #520. Despite an early exit Ross Challacombe #838 claimed Class 8 ahead of Rob Chapman #871, and Jack Huxstep #711 reigned supreme in Class 7.
QLD championship contender Luke Brandon #690s secured the final position on the Class 6s podium, Leila Chapman #616s did likewise in the Ladies Class, whilst David Loughnan #104 was rewarded for his efforts in Class 1.
Toby Musico #6688 once again showcased his remarkable skills behind the wheel of his Polaris to secure the Future Champions win, whilst the ever improving Hollie Gardiner #6689 and Lincoln Wilcox #727 completed the podium.
After watching a number of notables fall away on Saturday including John Moore #82, Steven Orr #1051, Rob Chapman #871, and Ross Challacombe #838, Sunday’s attrition rate was just as high. Overnight second place sitter Josh Weidman #6105, Tyson Howard #6168, David Loughnan #104, Lara Brandon #689s, Nigel Pearce #6608 and Bryan Peterson #1027 all bowing out over Sunday’s two sections.
The 2023 McCosker Mt. Larcom Short Course would not have been possible without the support of naming right sponsor McCosker Contracting, major event sponsor Farm and Garden Products, plus all the other sponsors Upton Engineering and Manufacturing, Thomas Plant Hire, and Multitrade Building Hire who assisted in many ways.
The Queensland Off Road Racing Championship would again like to thank their major naming right sponsors ARB and Mickey Thompson Tyres for their strong partnership in 2023, whilst expressing full gratitude towards the remaining championship sponsors, Dynamic Wheel Co, Lucas Papaw Remedies, Premium Soil Conditioners and Fertilisers, Comiskey Mining Services, North Lakes Best Western, plus Polaris Farm & Garden Produce.
The ARB Mickey Thompson Queensland Off Road Racing Championship will now turn its attention to next season, with the full 2024 calendar set to be released soon.
