The dust has settled on the 2014 Australasian Safari, with Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon X team finishing first and second in the Production Class category of the seven-day race.
Having already conquered 3450 kilometres, the final stage proved yet another tough test: 175kms of terrain that included solid rock, sand, mud and corrugated tracks before finally crossing the finish line at WA’s Murchison River in Kalbarri. And as if the terrain wasn’t hard enough, a torrential downpour turned the final stage into a mud-filled nightmare complete with flash flooding.
But the two Jeep Rubicon X dominated their division to finish first and second in what was the final running of the Australasian Safari. The fastest of Jeeps, piloted by motoring.com.au’s Matthew Brogan, crossed the line in 38 hours 20 minutes – meaning the showroom-ready Rubicon finished 13th overall.
The Safari’s production class, allows only minimal modifications. Aftermarket changes for the Australasian Safari were limited to racing seats and harnesses, a cargo cage and a racing intercom system.
4X4 Australia’s Matt Raudonikis – who drove the second Rubicon X – says: “The Jeep did a really good job. For a stock-standard production showroom car to finish that is just amazing.”
The tough-going of the Australasian Safari saw 18 of the 127 competitors retire well before the finish line, with those that finished in Kalbarri crossing more than 3800kms – 2378 of which were in competitive stages – with the winning team finishing in 26hrs 17mins and 25secs.
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