The championship committee are again looking forward to promoting the 2025 race season. There has been a change with the inclusion of a new track at Waikerie as the Griffith Off Road Club made the decision to have a break from running a national level event. The Waikerie Riverland Off Road Racing Association (Waikerie Off Roaders) have taken the opportunity created by the vacancy to pick up where they left off 6 years ago when the club had to step back from running national races due to needing to find a new home for their event.
The Griffith Off Road Club feels that they need a break from the Championship to allow them to regroup, to build the grass roots racing in their region and to reassess what combination of factors they need to put in place to promote a successful National event for their return to the Championship. The Landowners where disappointed with the move to a lower level event for 2025, but have given the club their full support for a return to the championship when the time is right.
Waikerie Off Roaders have been rebuilding their event since relocating to New Well Station, South West of the Waikerie Township, starting with a 30km track, and extending that to 43 km in 2024. The new track has been very well received by those that have raced it. The track will again be extended to make it approximately 60km for next years event. Waikerie Off Roaders team is excited to be once again be a part of the ARB Australian Off Road Racing Championship, the pinnacle of Off Road Racing in Australia and are looking forward to welcoming Australia’s best Off Roaders to what promises to be one of the best desert race tracks in the country.
Round one of the Championship will kick off in Rural Victoria at Rainbow for the Rainbow Big Desert 480 over the weekend of 28-30th of March. Beginning with Street Party and Show and Shine Friday night in Rainbow. The proven race format challenges Australia’s toughest racers through the tough sand sections and fast road sections.
Round Two held over the weekend of 11-13th of July will be The Riverland 400 held at New well Station near Waikerie which will be for most a new experience for most. The planned race format will start with Scrutiny and a Show and Shine in Waikerie on Friday night. Saturday morning will see the competitors complete prologue, followed by short course heat racing over the same course, which will be thrilling for the crowd at the spectating area which provides a view of almost 1.5km of the course. Sunday will see the competitors compete over the long course desert racing format. The club will provide full catering all weekend as well as camping at the track from Friday through to Sunday
Round Three will see the Championship head North to compete at the famous Goondiwindi track to see who can be master of the melon holes. Since the move 3 years ago to the new headquarters at “TORRIDON” The facilities, pits and spectator area is something not to be missed. Festivities kick off Friday night at the Goondiwindi show grounds for scruitiny and vehicle display. Saturday will see the prologue and 2 laps of the 85km course testing man and machine. Sunday will be 2 sections of 2laps with a 1 hour service break to complete the grueling 500Km’s and crown the winner of the famous GUNDY500 at the renowned presentation dinner held at the Goondiwindi Cultural centre.
The season finale will again return to the Pine Forests in Milicent over the weekend of the 26-29th of September. The Scrutiny held at the Teagle Excavations quarry is always a hit, drawing the crowd to inspect the vehicles up close at the Show and Shine. The Saturday action is not to be missed with some of the best spectator viewing for the Prolog and the Short course heat racing. Sunday sees the competitors return to the pine forests long course track to decide who will be the winner and placegetters of Australia’s best Off Road Racing Championship.
The ARB Off Road Racing Championship Committee is working hard to develop the ultimate Off Road Racing Championship, combined with some of the best tracks in the country. We continue to promote family friendly races, where the whole family can enjoy the Off Road Racing experience.
The ARB Australian Off Road Racing Committee are working hard to bring an affordable challenging and enjoyable championship to take part in, we are working towards making many improvements including an updated points score system, additional sponsors to reduce some of the costs, better communication including likely event costs before the championship starts.
The committee as part of this process is currently looking for a new Chairperson, as well as a promotions officer, so if you would like to get involved, please email us at auschampionship@gmail.com
