Australian Off Road Championship
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (November 2014) |
 | This article needs to be updated. (March 2018) |
 | |
| Category | Off-road rally |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Inaugural season | 1981 |
| Drivers' champion | Jack Rhodes (2016) |
| Constructors' champion | Jimco (United States) |
| Official website | www |
Australian Off Road Championship (AORC) is an off-road-based rally 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
| Class | Numbers | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro buggy | 1–99; 901–999 | One or two seat buggy up to 6.0 litre naturally aspirated engine or up to 3.5 litre turbo engine. | |
| Prolite buggy | 101–199 | One or two seat buggy up to 3.5 litre naturally aspirated engine. | |
| Super 1650 buggy | 201–299 | Two seat buggy between 1.3 and 1.65 litre naturally aspirated engine. | |
| Sportsman buggy | 301–399 | Two 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 2WD | 401–499 | One 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 2WD | 501–599 | Two seat vehicle based on a production vehicle with only moderate modifications permitted. | |
| Superlite A | 601–699 | Two seat side by side recreational vehicle up to 1.2 litre naturally aspirated engine. Minor modifications only permitted. | |
| Superlite B | 601–699 | Two seat side by side recreational vehicle up to 1.2 litre turbo engine. Minor modifications only permitted. | |
| Production 4WD | 701–799 | Production 4WD permitting minor modifications only. | |
| Extreme 4WD | 801–899 | Highly modified 4WD similar to Extreme 2WD | |
| Sportslite | 1001–1099 | One 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 | Driver | State | Vehicle | Navigator | State | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Craig Martin | Vic | Rivmasta | |||
| 1981 | Charlie Albins | Vic | Trekka | |||
| 1982 | Paul Zacka | QLD | Holden Rodeo 4WD | |||
| 1983 | Craig Martin | Vic | Rivmasta | |||
| 1984 | Doug Ryan | NSW | VW Baja | |||
| 1985 | Craig Martin | Vic | Rivmasta | |||
| 1986 | Neville Boyes | NSW | Rivmasta Datsun | |||
| 1987 | Les Siviour | NSW | Nissan Patrol | |||
| 1988 | Mark Burrows | Vic | Trekka | |||
| 1989 | Craig Martin | Vic | Rivmasta | |||
| 1990 | Daren Wells | Vic | Rivmasta | Ian McPhee | Vic | Rivmasta |
| 1991 | Les Brown | Vic | Verco Hornet | Leigh Jones | Vic | Verco Hornet |
| 1992 | Charlie Albins | Vic | Trekka | Rodja McClelland | Vic | Trekka |
| 1993 | Mark Burrows | Vic | Trekka | Maureen Rose | NSW | Raceco |
| 1994 | Mark Burrows | Vic | Trekka | Ross Waller | Vic | Trekka |
| 1995 | Daren Wells | Vic | Rivmasta | Brent Hill | Vic | Trekka |
| 1996 | Mark Burrows | Vic | Cougar | Michael Shannon | Vic | Cougar |
| 1997 | Paul Simpson | Vic | Jimco | Colleen Boyes | NSW | Hunter Rivmasta |
| 1998 | Fabio Zarfati | NSW | Mitsubishi Pajero | Dallas Pope | NSW | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 1999 | Terry Rose | NSW | Raceco | Maureen Rose | NSW | Raceco |
| 2000 | Terry Rose | NSW | Raceco | Colin Cuell | NSW | Raceco |
| 2001 | Mark Burrows | Vic | Jimco | Michael Shannon | Vic | Jimco |
| 2002 | Mark Burrows | Vic | Jimco | Janelle Svenson | Qld | Stealth |
| 2003 | Mark Burrows | Vic | Jimco | Colin Hodge | Vic | Jimco |
| 2004 | Shannon Rentsch | Vic | Chenowth Millennium | Ian Rentsch | Vic | Chenowth Millennium |
| 2005 | Shannon Rentsch | Vic | Chenowth Millennium | Ian Rentsch | Vic | Chenowth Millennium |
| 2006 | Shannon Rentsch | Vic | Chenowth Millennium | Ian Rentsch | Vic | Chenowth Millennium |
| 2007 | Hayden Bentley | SA | Jimco | Ben Chivell | SA | Jimco |
| 2008 | Shannon Rentsch | Vic | Chenowth Millennium | Ian Rentsch | Vic | Chenowth Millennium |
| 2009 | Shannon Rentsch | Vic | Chenowth Millennium | Ian Rentsch | Vic | Chenowth Millennium |
| 2010 | David Fellows | SA | Jimco | Mark Bergamin | SA | Jimco |
| 2011 | David Fellows | SA | Jimco | Mark Bergamin | SA | Jimco |
| 2012 | Matt Hanson | Vic | Jimco | Leigh Wells | Vic | Jimco |
| 2013 | Shannon Rentsch | Vic | Jimco | Ian Rentsch | Vic | Jimco |
| 2014 | Shannon Rentsch | Vic | Jimco | Ian Rentsch | Vic | Jimco |
| 2015 | Shannon Rentsch | Vic | Jimco | Ian Rentsch | Vic | Jimco |
| 2016 | Jack Rhodes | SA | Jimco | David Pullino | SA | Jimco |
References
- ^ "Specific Requirements for Off Road Vehicles". 2017 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport. 2017.