Travis Robinson and Paul Currie from WA in their #13 JIMCO OBR Nissan 3500cc PRO buggy have dominated today’s Prologue for the 2014 Tatts Finke Desert Race.
Setting an extremely fast time of 4minutes 59 seconds around the 8.3 kilometre prologue circuit Robinson/Currie were 11 seconds ahead of the second placed Victorian son and father crew of Shannon and Ian Rentsch (#1 JIMCO 2010 Nissan 3500cc) who stopped the clock at 5 minutes and ten seconds
Nissan powered JIMCO PRO buggies also filled the third and fourth fastest placings with #92 David Fellows/Mark Bergamin from South Australia clocking in at 5minutes 11 seconds and fellow South Australians #91Jack Rhodes and David Pullino with a time of 5minutes and 12 seconds
The #871 X4WD Mitsubishi Triton 2000cc machine of Queenslanders Clayton Chapman and Adam McGuire finished in fifth position with a time of 5 minutes 15 seconds.
Fastest Trophy Truck was that of South Australian crew and 2012 Tatts Finke Desert Race winner Brad Gallard/Scott Modistach in the #454 Geiser Brothers Chev 6000cc with a time of 5minutes 18 seconds in 6th position followed by Beau Robinson/Ken Skinner from WA #413 Geiser Brothers Trophy Truck Chev 6000cc also with a time of 5minutes 18 seconds.
Last year’s Tatts Finke Desert Race winner Hayden Bentley in his single seater #2 Racer Buggy Cadilac 3500cc qualified in 9th position with a time of 5 minutes 22 seconds.
Speaking after his pole winning time for the start of tomorrow’s 39th running of the Tatts Finke Desert Race Travis Robinson said: “My car is a just a weapon. I have proved we are quick but for the race I just want to get into a zone and cruise. I don’t want to break any records. It should be a good race and I hope to get home in the top three”.
A notable non-finisher at Prologue was that of five time Victorian Finke winner Mark Burrows with co-driver Colin Hodge (NSW) in the #21 MBR JIMCO 2012 Nissan 3500cc who pulled out with a reported loss of drive.
A total of 88 vehicles completed the prologue course.
Last year’s fastest Prologue time was 5 minutes and 9 seconds set by David Fellows/Mark Bergamin.
Tomorrow’s (Sunday June 8, 2014) race for cars commences at 7.30am for leg 1 of the event that takes the field 226 kilometres from the Alice Springs start to the overnight stop at Finke before returning to Alice Springs on Monday June 9.
