2021 Gotcha Glass Wynarka Enduro Wrap

Congratulations to Aaron and Chelsea Haby for their win on the weekend, adding a 4th outright Wynarka victory to Aaron’s trophy cabinet. Arron and Chelsea topped the time sheets for Prologue and continued to dominate all weekend proving un-catchable for the 14 racing laps and as predicted 30 seconds a lap faster than the next quickest, showing why he is the current ARB National #1. Mel and Liam Brandle drove a great race to come in 2nd Outright, after prologuing 8th, with some quick straight-line speed and sensible corner action. Mel was saying after the event, he could see a shredded tyre happening if he pushed too hard in the corner and caught a rock on the sidewall. Rounding out our podium was Brenton Forsyth, who at the start of the weekend looked like he would be able to run with Aaron, and did for a couple of laps early, before looking for the long-term goal of a solid finish, in a car that has been a bit unreliable for a couple of its last outings. It was great to see Brenton bring it home on the 14th lap and be able to drive it onto the transporter.

Pro Buggy

1st Arron & Chelsea Haby, followed by Brenton Forsyth, and in 3rd spot Andrew Fitzgerald and Maddie Barrett, has a solid run and would have been challenging for 2nd spot if not for a flat tyre on lap 6 adding another 4 min onto their overall time. After Not finishing a race in a seriously long time, Trevor Copeland finally got a finish and 4th in class. Trevor did it not without issues though, with fuel issues early then gear selection troubles on Sunday, the team rallied around and kept the car moving, giving Trevor a race to remember.

Prolite

In what was looking to be the hottest Prolite race for a couple of years did not disappoint, with highlights including David Hall running 2nd Outright early in the race, and the battle for Prolite 1st place seesawing between Erceg, Brandle, Nissen and Curtis at varying times of the race, this was evident on the scoresheet, but best of all it was visual on the track with close racing, including outbraking underneath competitors to take track positions. Coming out on top was Mel and Liam Brandle, 2nd Daryl Nissan and Andrew Harness with a phantom flat tyre on lap 9, losing 4 minutes.

Sports Lite

Sportslite was another class that promised so much and delivered on the weekend, with 1st and 2nd in class only separated by 16 minutes….. Shane Waters and Scott Watson won the class in a great display of driving running consistent 11:35 laps all weekend taking 7th outright as well. 2nd in class was Shannyn Fitzgerald and Jamie Andrews, while missing the top step by 16 minutes, it must be noted that Shannyn lost 13 minutes with a flat tyre on lap 5. rounding out the placegetters was Gavin Chant and Budgie Langford picking up a top 10 finish in the process, a great result in a beam car.

Super1650

Sam Vanstone and Brad Cheer came home the victors in the S1650 class and 9th outright, after starting out of position 36 on Saturday. Running consistently in the 13min/lap, the conditions were perfect for Sam and the team, 2nd in class Doug Carthew and Cindy Ball had an absolute cracking run feeling every bump in their beam car, but with a 11th outright and their first finish at Wynarka, Doug and Cindy couldn’t have been happier with their race.

Ext 2WD

John “Doc” Smith and Grant Manion, were the only Extreme 2WD to complete the 14 laps, giving them the win and 12th Outright, their run wasn’t without incident with a flat tyre on lap 13 putting 40 minutes behind their running time. This was Doc’s second flat tyre in 2 meetings, after getting one at Waikerie….maybe a warranty could be claimed?

Performance 2WD

With a record 6 starters it was Chris Pickert with Bryan Brown and Geoff Pickert who took home the first-place driving from the front all weekend and pushing for not only class victory, but outright honours, coming in a respectful 6th outright. 2nd was a gutsy drive by siblings Izaak and Mille Vanderwoude with father Darran in the silly seat. These young off roaders showed wisdom beyond their years, driving the car from 42nd on the grid to 13th by the end of the weekend.

SXS

Unfortunately, out of a field of 4 starters none came home for a full 14 laps with Grant Winter with Geoff Brennan and Kirilee Haythorpe, driving the wheels off the #620 Can am, with a lap to go the wheel fell off, ending their race

EXT 4WD

Aaron Harre and Nathan Dunn, do what they do best and that is finish races, they grabbed the class win and brough it home in 14th Outright on a rough track that would have rattled their back teeth, it would have been a long day in the seat for both, but rewarding at the end.