The opening round of the 2018 SSS Winch Challenge sponsored by ARB kicked off at Landcruiser Mountain Park on the last weekend in February. Rain leading up the event ensured it was a muddy and slippery affair, which forced the 19 teams to think outside the box, especially on Friday night. Saturdays stages had an old school feel, before the traditional side by side winch truck racing action on Sunday.
After 9 stages of competition a count back was needed to determine the winner, with Andrew McFarlane and Mark Calder from British Offroad coming out on top with 717 points (count back 2 penalties) ahead of Carl Johannesen and Jordy Saunders from CSJ Racing (count back 3 penalties) also on 717 points. Cam Marks and Benji Walker from ‘Give it some Jandal’ rounded out the podium with 697 points.
OUTRIGHT RESULTS
1st BRITISH OFFROAD – ANDREW MCFARLANE & MARK CALDER 717 points (Count back 2 penalties)
2nd CSJ RACING – CARL JOHANNESEN & JORDY SAUNDERS 717 points (Count back 3 penalties)
3rd GIVE IT SOME – JANDAL CAM MARKS & BENJI WALKER 697 points
4th DOUBLE IT UP – CHRIS WALDEN & BRENDAN HAMILTON 596 points
5th PRECISE AUTOMOTIVE – MICHAEL LOVE & JOSH MARKS 545 points
6th SHED BUILT RACING – MATT FUNNELL & JASON DUIGNAN 508 points
7th RBR – BRADLEY ROBERTSON & DAVID ROBERTSON 489 points
8th BUSTED BITS – BRETT SWITZER & JED PHELPS 477 points
9th RODBOX RACING – JESSE GLEESON & RYAN SUTHERLAND 472 points
10th WASTED RACING – ROBERT BARTON & TRENT HARMSWORTH 458 points
11th LTD RACING – ANDREW HELSDON & TIM WHITE 410 points
12th LCH RACING – RILEY LEE & DAN GORDON 401 points
13th SMURF RACING – JAMIE BUHSE & CORY PURNELL 353 points
14th CRUTROL RACING – TRENT NICHOLSON & AARON COOK 284 points
15th TORQUEGAS – NICK FLANNIGAN & JOSH ASHMAN 261 points
16th DOBINSONS PERFORMANCE DIVISION – OLLY CLEWS & ASHLEY QUIRK 236 points
17th BERRY BROS – MARK BERRY & KARL BERRY 216 points
18th SHAKE & BAKE RACING – DANNY MOORE & DAN SPARKES 170 points
19th UNIVERSAL DRIVESHAFT – BRIAN KUHBAUCH & TROY CALLINAN 122 points
STAGE WINNERS
Stage 1: BERRY BROS
Stage 2: WASTED RACING
Stage 3: GIVE IT SOME JANDAL
Stage 4: DOUBLE IT UP
Stage 5: GIVE IT SOME JANDAL
Stage 6: GIVE IT SOME JANDAL
Stage 7: BRITISH OFFROAD
Stage 8: DOUBLE IT UP
Stage 9: CSJ RACING
Photos thanks to James Maroske
