Last days for Safari 2011 earlybird entries – get your motors running!

Earlybird entries into Australia’s most extreme offroad motorsport event, The Australasian Safari, close on Friday 15 April.

A number of big-name Australian and international competitors in auto, moto and quad categories have already signed up to take on the remote Western Australian goldfields and desert from 22 to 30 September 2011.

These include present and past V8 Supercar drivers Craig Lowndes and Paul Weel; multi award winning moto champion Ben Grabham, past winner and Dakar competitor Jacob Smith with brother Todd; and for the first time in Australia, US pure bred moto competitor Alexander Smith.

They will join an elite group of people who have the strength and mental stamina to take on the seven gruelling days of endurance driving and riding, navigating a course they have never before driven, following maps through a mostly offroad course over thousands of kilometres, often at speed and on a timed run. For most, the goal is just to make it through to the end.

The event is under new management in 2011 with long-time event director Justin Hunt taking on the exciting new challenge of his own event management business. Octagon Australia has now passed the baton onto Justin, who is based in WA.

The transition from Octagon Australia to Justin Hunt Management Pty Ltd has been very smooth and supported by all parties concerned.

Justin said his move back to Western Australia and running the event from his own business was testament to his commitment to the long-term future of the event.

“Motorsport has been a lifelong passion for me and I’m determined to build on the success of the Safari to date.

“It’s a unique event and competitors and officials have become like family over the years. I plan to steadily improve on the great work already done on creating challenging courses, obtaining a strong international TV presence, and importantly ensuring safety and emergency management is best practice.

“The transition has been really positive and I would like to acknowledge Octagon Australia and Tourism Western Australia for making this possible,” Justin said.

The Western Australia Government supports the Australasian Safari through Eventscorp, a division of Tourism WA.

Eventscorp Executive Director David Van Ooran said the Australasian Safari provided a platform to showcase extraordinary images of parts of Western Australia so remote they are often not caught on camera.

“Thanks to the event, we are able to capture the adventure and excitement of the West Australian outback with vision that is broadcast around the world, in what we like to call the Australian version of the Dakar Rally,” Mr Van Ooran said.

‘Early bird entries’ is the first stage of the entry process where competitors who submit an Expression of Interest qualify for a discounted entry fee. The final date for close of entries is Friday 12 August. Details on the course are being finalised and will be announced closer to the event.

For more information on the event and to find out how to enter, visit www.australasiansafari.com.au