Australian Off Road Championship (AORC) is an off-road racing championship held annually in Australia, with the inaugural event held in 1981. AORC events are defined as ‘long course’ events that are conducted on a track of no less than 15 kilometres in length, but are usually between 75 and 100 kilometres. The courses and tracks used for the AORC vary greatly and can be narrow, twisting and tree-lined, undulating farmland tracks, sand dunes and creek crossings, often incorporating man-made jumps and other obstacles but usually have high average speeds.
Most events run over three days with Scrutineering (safety checks on vehicles), Prologue (short time trial to determine starting order for event proper) and racing over one to two days (usually split into Sections). Most events also feature a Top Ten Shootout (opportunity for the ten fastest prologue vehicles to prologue again) and a Dash for Cash where the fastest two vehicles in each class (not involved in the Top Ten Shootout) race each other to win prize money.
To enter, vehicles must comply with regulations determined by the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS). There are ten classes for vehicles.
Classes
ClassNumbersDescriptionPro buggy1–99; 901–999One or two seat buggy up to 6.0 litre naturally aspirated engine or up to 3.5 litre turbo engine.Prolite buggy101–199One or two seat buggy up to 3.5 litre naturally aspirated engine.Super 1650 buggy201–299Two seat buggy between 1.3 and 1.65 litre naturally aspirated engine.Sportsman buggy301–399Two seat buggy up to 1.3 litre naturally aspirated engine. No longer recognised as a class at AORC level – these vehicles must run in Super 1650.Extreme 2WD401–499One or two seat 'truck' up to 6.0 litre naturally aspirated engine or up to 3.5 litre turbo engine. Vehicle is otherwise unlimited in design and construction except it must somewhat resemble a registerable vehicle. Volkswagen Baja vehicles are included in this class.Performance 2WD501–599Two seat vehicle based on a production vehicle with only moderate modifications permitted.Superlite A601–699Two seat side by side recreational vehicle up to 1.2 litre naturally aspirated engine. Minor modifications only permitted.Superlite B601–699Two seat side by side recreational vehicle up to 1.2 litre turbo engine. Minor modifications only permitted.Production 4WD701–799Production 4WD permitting minor modifications only.Extreme 4WD801–899Highly modified 4WD similar to Extreme 2WDSportslite1001–1099One or two seat buggy up to 2.5 litre naturally aspirated engine or 1.6 litre turbo engine. New class – not recognised at AORC level in 2017.
2018 events St George 399 – Queensland Finke Desert Race – Northern Territory Rainbow Desert Enduro – Victoria
List of past winners Year DriverState VehicleNavigatorStateVehicle1981Craig Martin VICRivmasta1981Charlie Albins VICTrekka1982Paul Zacka QLDHolden Rodeo 4WD1983Craig Martin VICRivmasta1984Doug Ryan NSWVW Baja1985Craig Martin VICRivmasta1986Neville Boyes NSWRivmasta Datsun1987Les Siviour NSWNissan Patrol1988Mark Burrows VICTrekka1989Craig Martin VICRivmasta1990Daren Wells VICRivmastaIan McPhee VICRivmasta1991Les Brown VICVerco HornetLeigh Jones VICVerco Hornet1992Charlie Albins VICTrekkaRodja McClelland VICTrekka1993Mark Burrows VICTrekkaMaureen Rose NSWRaceco1994Mark Burrows VICTrekkaRoss Waller VICTrekka1995Daren Wells VICRivmastaBrent Hill VICTrekka1996Mark Burrows VICCougarMichael Shannon VICCougar1997Paul Simpson VICJimcoColleen Boyes NSWHunter Rivmasta1998Fabio Zarfati NSWMitsubishi PajeroDallas Pope NSWMitsubishi Pajero1999Terry Rose NSWRacecoMaureen Rose NSWRaceco2000Terry Rose NSWRacecoColin Cuell NSWRaceco2001Mark Burrows VICJimcoMichael Shannon VICJimco2002Mark Burrows VICJimcoJanelle Svenson QLDStealth2003Mark Burrows VICJimcoColin Hodge VICJimco2004Shannon Rentsch VICChenowth MillenniumIan Rentsch VICChenowth Millennium2005Shannon Rentsch VICChenowth MillenniumIan Rentsch VICChenowth Millennium2006Shannon Rentsch VICChenowth MillenniumIan Rentsch VICChenowth Millennium2007Hayden Bentley SAJimcoBen Chivell SAJimco2008Shannon Rentsch VICChenowth MillenniumIan Rentsch VICChenowth Millennium2009Shannon Rentsch VICChenowth MillenniumIan Rentsch VICChenowth Millennium2010David Fellows SAJimcoMark Bergamin SAJimco2011David Fellows SAJimcoMark Bergamin SAJimco2012Matt Hanson VICJimcoLeigh Wells VICJimco2013Shannon Rentsch VICJimcoIan Rentsch VICJimco2014Shannon Rentsch VICJimcoIan Rentsch VICJimco2015Shannon Rentsch VICJimcoIan Rentsch VICJimco2016Jack Rhodes SAJimcoDavid Pullino SAJimco
See also
Motorsport in Australia Finke Desert Race
References
External links
www.offroadracing.com.au/Results/Past 2012 Australian Off Road Championship