Attack the Dirt

An Off Road Racing Blog by Toyo Tires Australia

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TOYO TIRES READIES FOR DESERT DUEL

Toyo Tires is fielding a team of desert racing doyens with hopes of reclaiming the crown of Australia's ultimate rally raid, the Finke Desert Race.

Fitted with Toyo Tires Open Country M/T tyres, Team Toyo competitors will race across several classes over 452 of Australia's least hospitable kilometres, between Alice Springs and Finke.

The Queen's Birthday weekend will see 559 drivers and riders tackle the 41st running of the race that pairs the brutality of Dakar with sprint pace.

Leading the charge for Team Toyo is 2011 Finke King of the Desert and Stadium Super Trucks regular Greg Gartner. The first driver to win the legendary desert race outright in a trophy truck, Gartner and navigator Jamie Jennings will campaign the 750-horsepower #410 truck in the Extreme 2WD class.

Following two years of driveline development and four competition rounds of Stadium Super Trucks, Gartner's 12th year at the Finke has promise.

"We have picked the absolute best parts for the truck, and the Toyos get the power to the ground. We know now what to expect and we know we can achieve good results. Finke is about survival as much as it is competition," he said.

"At Finke qualifying is serious as early starting positons get you ahead of the dust. After racing SSTs on tarmac I am driving smoother, we have improved mid-corner speed and I am always working on my late braking. We know the Finke track and we have learned how to drive through dust."

2013 ARB off-road racing series champion Danny Brown is gunning to fulfil a birthright to off-road racing greatness in the #42 twin-turbo Jimco, racing in the highly competitive Pro-Buggy class.

Coming off two wins in his last two races and channelling 1000 flywheel horsepower through 37-inch tyres, Brown and navi George Apted intend to challenge for a Finke podium after a disappointing driveline failure in the 2015 event.

"Finke is such a hard race to say you're going to go out and win. There are so many variables and so many good competitors," Brown said.

"We are going for the finish; if everything goes to plan we aim to be in the top three," he said.

Team Toyo is joined by a Mazda Australia and Wheels Magazine entry to the Production 4WD Class. Motoring journalist Toby Hagon will take the wheel of a Mazda BT-50 XTR dual cab, fitted with Toyo Tires Open Country M/Ts.

"The BT-50 is effectively a road-going car with safety modifications," Hagon said. "We aim to prove the car at the toughest off-road race in Australia. The idea is to finish the race, which is a challenge in itself.

"Tyres are an important part of racing this track, and we are glad to have something tough."

Follow Team Toyo on the Toyo Tyres Australia Facebook page and on the Toyo Blog. Follow the Mazda BT-50 atWheelsMag.com.au/Finke.

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Stadium Super Trucks, Sydney

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Goondiwindi 2015

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OFF-ROAD VICTORY FOR TEAM TOYO

Team Toyo end the 2015 off-road racing season on the podium.

Team Toyo’s Danny Brown, George Apted and Greg Gartner are bringing home silverware after securing a hard-fought podium positions over the weekend.

Victoria’s Danny Brown and George Apted steered the #42 Toyo Tires buggy to outright victory in the final round of the ARB Off-Road Racing Series in Goondiwindi, Queensland.

Starting from pole after a blistering performance on Saturday during prologue and the Top 10 Shoot Out, Danny and George gave no quarter to the championship leaders breathing down their necks.

“We have wanted to win this, we came so close last year and the year before. Goondiwindi has been cruel to us in the past,” said Danny.

During the 2014 event the #42 buggy’s engine gave up 30 kilometres shy of the finish line on the final lap, negating a three-minute lead on the field.

The Albins ARB Goondiwindi 400 is renowned for being one of toughest tracks on the Off-Road calendar. With conditions dusty, the clean air afforded to the first starter is invaluable.

“There are ‘melon holes’ the size of a car, in some ways it’s the hardest race in Australia, there are so many things that can bite you, and coming off track almost guarantees rolling the car,” Danny said.

Danny Brown and George Apted

With a small accident damaging the buggy’s shocks, Danny was forced to salvage the right-hand suspension from father Andy’s buggy, after Andy was forced to withdraw after hitting a post at 200km/h.

“We started the final stage leading by just 23 seconds. Because the shock wasn’t valved for the car, a jolt knocked off our gas canister, meaning we had no shocks for whole last section. We managed to stay in front but it beat us up. I thought the front of the car might snap off!,” said Danny.

Despite the failing suspension, Danny and George pulled off a spectacular win, recording the fastest lap of the weekend on their final circuit, minus one shock absorber.

In Stadium Super Trucks, South Australian off-road menace Greg Gartner took silverware in his second SST drive, at the high-flying sports Sydney debut.

At home on the dirt at Valvoline Raceway, Greg qualified second, won race two and finished second outright from the night’s three races.

Against a highly experienced field of US drivers Robby Gordon, Sheldon Creed and Keegan Kincaid alongside the likes of V8 racer Paul Morris and stunt man Matt Mingay, Greg’s ability in the trucks grew with every minute of seat-time.

“We started down the back of the field in race two and we got going and I was following Paul Morris and he made a mistake and I didn’t look back,” said Greg. “Everything went really well for us.

“There was a lot of tussling and banging and crashing, but second overall has us really excited. I am loving the challenge.”

Greg Gartner

Both Danny and Greg complimented the performance of their Toyo Open Country M/T-R and Open Country A/T II tyres, respectively.

“We ran the same front tyres from the Pines Enduro. They have over 1000 race kays on them and they still look new,”said Danny.

Greg said the tyres ability to switch from SST racing on bitumen to dirt without any adjustment was impressive.“The tyres were unreal. It’s amazing how those trucks can go from bitumen racing and jumping and cornering, and for them to hang on and then turn around the following weekend and put the tyres straight onto dirt. They can handle the pressures without any changes at all. They perform way up there and are the best tyres I have ever used,” said Greg.

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Sydney Stadium Super Trucks Highlights 2015

The Highlights of the final race of the myPlates Stadium Super Trucks event presented by the Daily Telegraph from Valvoline Raceway in Parramatta

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TEAM TOYO READIES FOR SST RUMBLE

Australia and the US face off brews for Gold Coast Stadium Super Truck brawl.

Team Toyo off-road racer Greg Gartner will join four Aussies and six Americans at the Gold Coast 600 round ofStadium Super Trucks this weekend.

The former Finke King of the Desert will swap roosting dirt for soaring high over the Queensland street circuit in front of the V8 Supercar crowd.

A gentleman in the pits and a demon in a race car, Gartner has a test session under his belt and is excited to swap paint with his American competitors.

“This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time,” Gartner said.

“We have some field-leading competitors on the Aussie side. It’s too early to tell for myself yet, but we will be giving it a crack. There are some experienced drivers here; young Sheldon Creed isn’t scared of anything and is a top driver!

“The trucks are a short wheel base and are very twitchy, with super direct steering. That’s going to take some getting used to. Tyres are very important here and the Toyos are a proven tyre,” he said.

“There is a different finesse required than in off-road racing; the more sideways you get the slower you go. You’ve got to try and keep the rear in as much as you can and push the car forward.”

Joining Greg in the battle for an Australian victory is Gold Coast stuntman Matt Mingay, Sir Jack Brabham descendent Matt Brabham, speedcar racer Brett Thomas and motorsport virtuoso Paul ‘The Dude’ Morris.

The Antipodean contingent faces stiff celebrity competition. With names including racing royalty Robby Gordon, teen racing wunderkind Sheldon Creed, and former Olympian and reality TV superstar Caitlyn Jenner’s son Burt Jenner, the US field is rounded with podium regular Keegan Kincaid and series competitors Scotty Steele and Bill Hynes.

The second local round of a series threatening to make a side show of supercars, the sophomore showing of the electrifying series is expected to produce ‘waffle bellies’ out of V8SC fans.

“A waffle-belly is when sitting fans are jumping out of their seats, pressing themselves up against the chain link fence and putting a griddle pattern across their stomach,” explains Robby Gordon.

The Stadium Super Trucks Series race on Toyo’s Open Country A/T II.

“Stadium Super Trucks is harsh on tyres and the Open Country A/T II tyres take everything we can throw at them. There isn’t much I haven’t put these tyres through,” Gordon said.

An off-the-shelf tyre, the state-of-the-art Open Country A/T II features improved wear and puncture resistance, with an aggressive tread pattern and innovative compound that provides superior grip in on and off-road applications.

Open Country A/T II is available now in popular sizes, and the range will soon be expanded to 31 sizes in passenger and light-truck constructions.

ENTRY LIST #2 Matt Mingay (AUS) #7 Robby Gordon (USA) #14 Greg Gartner (AUS) #47 Keegan Kincaid (USA) #48 Scotty Steele (USA) #50 Burt Jenner (USA) #57 Bill Hynes (USA) #67 Paul “The Dude” Morris (AUS) #69 Brett Thomas (AUS) #74 Sheldon Creed (USA) #83 Matt Brabham (AUS)

SCHEDULE

Friday, October 23 10:15am-10:35am – Practice 5:45pm-6:05pm – Qualifying (10 laps)

Saturday, October 24 8:45am-9:05am – Practice 12:40pm-1:00pm – Race 2 (10 laps)

Sunday, October 25 8:10am-8:30am – Race 3 (10 laps) 1:00pm-1:20pm – Race 4 (10 laps)

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THE RACE BEYOND THE PINES

Team Toyo hell men ready to roost dirt and hunt silverware.

A national series calendar cut short has drawn 73 keen competitors to what is one of the most popular and visually dramatic rounds on the off-road racing calendar.

Agitated off-road racing armaments will tomorrow carve conifer laneways through the picturesque Tantanoola Pine Forest in Millicent, South Australia, at the Teagle Excavations ARB Pines Enduro 400.

Right in the heart of SA’s limestone coast, Team Toyo hell men will be roosting dirt and hunting silverware.

In Extreme 2WD, Greg ‘Why would I lift?’ Gartner will be lighting the Open Country M/T-R’s in the big blue #410 F-150 trophy truck.

With a strong season under his belt, Gartner is well known for his pace at Millicent and will take the fight to the top end turbo buggies the track favours, wringing every horse from the Ford SVO V8.

The fearsome green Toyo-shod Razorback steered by Andy Murdock will join Gartner in the battle for class honours in X2WD.

His first race weekend since a plagued Finke, Danny Brown has a faster motor and first place ambitions.

“Pines is my favourite race of the year and we always do well there. Hoping to see the top step, looking for a podium,” said Brown.

“It’s a sandy track, a few days of rain has made the sand a bit heavier which keeps the dust down. The Toyos will hook up really well, we will need their traction in the sand to get moving and then the turbo cars will come into their own.”

With lurking undergrowth, sand covered straights and tight corners the Toyo race rubber has its work cut out.

“It’s heavy going powering down those straights, it makes the right tyre choice and the fine line between right tyre pressures for traction critical,” says Brown.

“There is a lot of fast guys here and competition is going to be fierce. This race is won on the first lap, so we’ll go and have a crack. The V8s will do in prologue but the long straights in the race will have the turbo cars eating them up.”

A father vs son showdown is brewing between Danny and his dad Andy Brown campaigning the #45 Saber V8 buggy, with no quarter given on track.

“There’s always a bit of banter between us. I’m waiting for the time we qualify next to each other. It will be the most expensive first corner in off-road racing history. I’m not going to give him an inch and he won’t give me one, either.”

Joining Danny and Andy in the pro-buggy class is the svelte flame-spitting #23 Jimco, with Matthew Kittle on the tools. His virgin run at Pines, this will be car #23’s last outing for 2015. Macca is excited for a finish after a tough season of racing.

“It’s looking like clear skies, low dust; I have never raced here before and I am excited to possibly get a chequered flag this weekend.

“There are a lot of guys coming to get a last run. It’s going to be a tough field, our pace is up there and we will push hard from prologue.

“The turbocharged buggies will definitely have the better run this weekend. The course is straight and fast, top gear stuff. The buggy works well in high speed sections; I am getting my confidence up in the tight and windy bits. We have found the correct balance and we are excited to get out there.”

Forza Team Toyo!

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Danny Brown @ Finke 2015 - Full Version

Danny Brown's 2015 Finke Desert Race

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TOYO TIRES RIVERLAND ENDURO 2015: RACE WRAP

Rhodes repeats Riverland victory.

In a race dominated by pro-buggies, South Australia’s #91 Jack Rhodes and David Pullino claimed victory for the second year in a row, at the Toyo Tires Riverland Enduro.

“The team was incredible today,” said an elated Rhodes. “Every year the team gets stronger and stronger.”

Rhodes was followed in by current champion Shannon Rentsch, grabbing second place after qualifying ninth in a hairy prologue, with the current King of the Desert into the tyre stacks and up on two wheels across the finish line. #61 Chris Western placed third outright, rounding out the podium.

The Riverland’s high speed track and rough conditions took a toll on the field, with scores of DNF’s listed for the day.

Team Toyo made a strong start to the race. Brad Gallard and Greg Gartner drag raced their trophy trucks off the start line.

The pair battled for the lead in Extreme 2WD leaning on their 39” Open Country M/T-Rs, blazing fence lines and soaring from jumps. Starting from 13th, local legend Gallard led the class after lap one and clawed his way fifth outright. Pushing hard, the TRD powered #454 succumbed to a broken axle, ending Brad’s hopes of repeating a podium in 2015.

"An unlucky weekend, but we were out there tearing it up," said Gallard.

With Gallard out, Gartner took top of class, running extremely aggressive times and holding sixth outright up until his final lap, when the GGM team found a small piece of metal in the air cleaner and decided to play it safe.

Gartner praised the Toyo Open Country M/T-R’s performance.

“The Riverland Enduro is a very naily track. Lots of tight corners, lots of trees, and lots of fast straights, the race vehicle had to put up with flat strap high speeds, then coming into different tight corners, trees, stumps, rocks. Hard on the brakes, hard on the throttle and hard on the steering, I absolutely love the track, but it is hard on gear.

“I can’t believe what we put tyres through and they come out the other side. Waikerie is so rough. We were playing with tyre pressures for more traction, and low pressures don’t impact the tyres at all.”

Gartner also threw in a big effort for the longest jump of the race.

“We were coming up to the road jump getting more confident every time the, unfortunately I was planning the big one for the last lap, but the truck loved it, we were rapt with the way the tyres and suspension handled the jumps.”

Hayden Bentley in the #418 and Matthew Kittle in the #23 Pro-Buggy ran two laps on the pace, before their respective vehicles also called it quits for the weekend.

“The pace was frantic all weekend. The truck went awesome; we had a recurring problem with it jumping out of third gear, so we decided not to damage any further.” Said Bentley. “The track was great, tyres were awesome, I’m still getting used to driving the truck but with more hours we will be very fast.”

With Goondiwindi only two weeks away, Team Toyo are now scrambling to prep for a podium push, following a troubled season.

Full results from the Toyo Tires Riverland Enduro.

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TOYO TIRES RIVERLAND ENDURO 2015: PROLOGUE RESULTS

Dust flies at the Riverland Enduro.

An extended prologue track, now covering 11 kilometres of fast and rocky track offered a challenge for almost 100 racers qualifying for today's AORC show down.

In front of a massive crowd, drivers didn’t disappoint.

Hometown hero Brad Gallard and the PKMS #454 lead the trophy truck class following a clean 6:13.14 run for 13th outright. The TRD V8 boomed as Brad manoeuvred through the tight prologue course.

Brad spearheads Team Toyo into tomorrows race.

Greg Gartner chased the #454 in with a 14th outright and second in class, just two seconds off the pace of the Gallard piloted cruise missile.

“We had a clean run, we were reasonably cautious because it’s a new track, but tomorrow will be great,” said Gartner.

After prologue the #410 swapped over to out a set of new rear M/T-R’s that saw the truck through a finish at Finke, a podium in Moorex and a hard mornings qualifying.

“We could run them tomorrow, but its game on!”

Hayden Bentley, also running on 39” Open Country M/T-R’s is racking up hours in the NASCAR powered Racer Engineering TT, hoping to wind the truck out to top speed tomorrow.

“The only thing holding the truck back is me. It has all the go, with more seat time it will be a weapon. It will definitely go the distance in the race, prologue and the race proper are two different things entirely” said Bentley.

In the hyper-competitive Pro-Buggy class, #23 came in 22nd with Macca Kittle keeping it in shape over skatey rocks and through mallee scrub for a comfortable start.

“We are ready for a big day tomorrow” said Macca. “We will get out there and make up some places”

With 400 kilometres of skatey rock, twisty turns and galloping straights to follow, we wish Team Toyo happy hunting!

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TOYO TIRES RIVERLAND ENDURO 2015: RACE READY

With scrutineering done, hours remain until wheels turn in anger in Waikerie.

The full field of 102 registered race cars and hundreds of spectators were in attendance at Toyo Tires Riverland Enduro scrutineering tonight.

The Waikerie off-road club said conditions were shaping up nicely with scattered showers on Thursday putting moisture into the track, hopefully cutting dust for the action.

Racers will be raring to launch from under the Toyo Tires start/finish line banner.

The grid is packed with the best off-roaders in the country. Jack Rhodes is on hand looking for a sophomore win at Waikerie, as well hunting for some payback after an equipment failure at The Finke saw incumbent AORC champion Shannon Rentsch take the win.

X2WD sees Team Toyo’s Brad Gallard, Greg Gartner and Hayden Bentley battling for points and pride, with Macca Kittle up against an extremely competitive pro-buggy class.

The event heats up on the Saturday at lunch time when prologue begins followed by the Top Ten Shoot Out, a second shot at the prologue by the fastest 10 cars.

The shoot out will be followed by the Dash for Cash, where cars launch two at a time against each for cash and prizes – another not-to-be-missed spectacle.

Sunday is race day.

Racing will commence at 9am, with cars launching two at a time at 30 second intervals. Spectators will watch competitors drag race each other off the start line and then smash into the whoops before roaring off. With 15 kilometres of viewing areas along the roadsides around the track, including the very popular and spectacular Road Jump, the Riverland Enduro offers the best spectator experience in the off-road series.

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One Week Till Waikerie

Top speed and superior spectating on offer as the AORC lands on Toyo turf.

The Toyo Tires Riverland Enduro is Team Toyo’s home race, South Australia being home base for Toyo’s off-road racing program. The track is designed with spectators in mind it is one of the fastest and most varied courses on the AORC calendar, drawing racers from around the country.

The race conditions at the Waikerie track are a proving ground for cars and drivers, with sustained high speeds and changing terrain placing tremendous pressure on drive trains.

The tracks limestone surfaces are also extremely hard on tyres. Toyo’s Open Country M/T-R, has proven itself near unbreakable on scores of laps at race speed around the track.

Brad Gallard, following mechanical drama with the Peter Kittle Motorsport #454 Jimco trophy truck at Finke will be working hard in front of a home crowd, hoping to improve on last year’s third outright.

The race is a highlight for Brad.

“My favourite thing about the Riverland Enduro is the country atmosphere. It’s still a race, so relaxed is the wrong word, but the event is comfortable for me, it’s great to be there. It’s a very good feeling to be racing just an hour from home,” says Brad.

With a long history of racing in the Riverland, Brad’s local hero status isn’t all champagne and podium finishes.

“The worst part of the Riverland Enduro is not finishing. I have more DNF’s than I do finishes from 13 starts at Waikerie. It’s a track the gets the better of me. It’s my home race, the locals really get behind you and its game on, and you can push a bit hard. Bit of the red mist,” he says.

Matt Kittle in the 3500cc twin turbo PKMS Jimco will be duelling the likes of Shannon Rentsch and Jack Rhodes in the Pro-Buggy class. “The best part of the event is speed of the track,” says Matt. “Getting to take the car up to its top speed at 220km/h or more is always a good rush.”

“There is plenty of action for spectators, and the road jump that spectators can stop at on the way in to the main Toyo area is massive”

The side by side start (also a plus for spectators) is a bit of a challenge, pushing drivers hard off the line. Drivers are incentivised to launch hard, or suffer some spray.

“If you don’t get a good start then you get showered in rock!” says Matt.

Toyo man Greg Gartner has also been getting in plenty of practice since Finke, running third outright at his own event at Moorex earlier this month. The #410 F150 is ready for a hard charge, following a great performance in 2014 that he will build on this year.

Hayden Bentley, after a second place in the X2WD class at Finke, wants to take his new Racer Engineering trophy truck to the next level.

“I have only done the event once in the last 10 years, but I like that it has a bit of everything. Fast stuff, mallee scrub, limestone, everything.”

With the home ground advantage, Team Toyo are primed once more for a great weekend of racing.

Stay tuned to the Toyo blog and Toyo Tyres Australia Facebook page for regular updates.

Check out the spectator guide here.

Check out the registered list of entrants here.

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Peter Kittle Motorsport 2015 Finke Campaign

Special thanks to PKMS and Elevate Aerial Media. http://toyotires.com.au/

Join Team Toyo hellmen for a desert assault.

This eight minute video takes viewers behind the scenes, embedding with Team Toyo hellmen Matt Kittle and Brad Gallard and the Peter Kittle Motorsport team as they stage an assault on Australia’s most challenging desert race.

A race where only half the field reaches the finish line, the team is plagued by issues minor and major, as the Outback bites back.

Grab a drink, settle in and enjoy eight minutes from behind the scenes at the Finke Desert Race.

http://toyotires.com.au/toyo-blog/487-embedded-on-finke-s-front-line

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Toyo Tires Backs Riverland Enduro

Toyo Tires has continued its support of Australia's off-road racing scene by sponsoring a key round of the Australian Off Road Championship (AORC) for the second year running.

The Toyo Tires Riverland Enduro will take place near the small town of Waikerie in South Australia in late July as the third and penultimate round of the AORC.

James Lochert, president of the Waikerie Riverland Off Road Association, welcomed Toyo's second year of support.

"Toyo tyres are used by some of the fastest competitors in off-road racing both locally and overseas," Mr Lochert said. "Toyo's support has helped us to grow the Riverland round of the AORC, as well as the visibility of the sport itself."

"We are glad to have the opportunity to repeat our association in 2015, and keep the momentum for the Toyo Tires Riverland Enduro going," he said.

Toyo Australia's marketing manager José Angeles said Toyo's ongoing support for the Riverland Enduro was part of the brand's commitment to off-road racing.

"Interest in off-road racing continues to grow, and South Australia is home to Toyo's off-road racing program," said Mr Angeles.

"The Riverland round attracts the cream of the off-road racing crop. Teams are looking to settle scores or assert dominance following the Finke Desert Race. There will be some incredible racing to behold, set against the picturesque Riverland backdrop."

The Toyo Tires Riverland Enduro will also give Toyo a chance to gain valuable insights into the performance of itsOpen Country 4WD tyres.

"The partnership gives us the opportunity to observe the performance of the Open Country range of tyres in conditions renowned by competitors for their harshness. The constantly shifting outback mix of sand, rocks, limestone and scrub makes it the perfect proving ground."

Team Toyo drivers Matthew Kittle, Brad Gallard, Greg Gartner and Hayden Bentley will be competing for outright honours.

The 2015 Toyo Tires Riverland Enduro will run from July 24 to 26. Race updates will be available through the social media channels of Toyo Tyres Australia and the AORC.

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Finke 2015: Desert Finale

Blanketed and boxed in by dust, hounded by mechanical issues and battling against the desert, Team Toyo has punched through the darkness and roared home.

The coveted 40th anniversary race has been one of the toughest Finke’s ever, according to drivers coming into Alice Springs from the massive field.

The battle of Rentsch and Rhodes went in favour of sophomore King of the Desert Rentsch, illustrating the random cruelty of The Finke Desert Race.

Rhodes lead the field all weekend, an almost assured victory slipping through his fingers following a flat tyre after the Bundooma checkpoint, around kilometre 110.

Hayden Bentley lead Team Toyo in, taking second in the X2WD class and seventh outright in his first Finke with the Racer Engineering trophy truck.

“The run, home especially for the for the last 100 kilometres was a lot of fun, we found some clear air and got to push it,” said Bentley.

“Qualifying cost us positions but we couldn’t be happier with our run, no damage to the truck, no moments, no damage, no flats. Very happy for a brand new truck we haven’t driven; next qualifying will be a different story.”

Bentley Motorsports and the #418 TT will return in form at the Toyo Tires Riverland Enduro.

“We will regroup and clean up for Waikerie. There are lot of positives to take from it, we will build it on this performance and go get ‘em,” he said.

Matthew Kittle’s fourth attempt at finishing the legendary desert race race has been a success. Kittle pushed through the field following a rollover in qualifying to finish 12th outright and ninth in Pro-Class with a very fast return run, half of it without brakes.

“It was one of the hardest drives I have ever done, the dust was ridiculous and the seeded position started us from 30th, so we made up 17 positions.”

About halfway through the return leg, after the Rodinga checkpoint the #23 Jimco lost  brakes, with Kittle relying solely on the Open Country M/T-R’s grip to get through corners.

“At Finke any corner you overshoot there is a big hole or a big tree waiting for you. The tyres performed really well, with no brakes I needed to make sure I had the control around the corners. The tyre performed perfectly,” he said.

“They gave me the confidence to hook up and I never had any doubts.”

Following a nightmare first day, Greg Gartner Motorsports replaced a damaged torque converter and headed to Finke late last night, to see the #410 have a final crack at the 40th.

Arriving a 2am, rolling swags out until 5am and then straight back into racing, Gartner did his hard charging reputation justice.

Doing a 2:07.43 on the return, Gartner again proves that excluding mechanical drama, he is a top series contender.

Danny Brown in the #42 Pro-Class buggy and Brad Gallard were both unable to start today’s return to Alice Springs leg following gearbox and engine issues.

The PKMS #454 proved un-repairable overnight, with a sensor issue rendering the big Jimco unusable. Brad Gallard is confident that the 5.8 litre Toyota PH9 V8 will make the truck a force to be reckoned with in Waikerie.

“It’s a disappointing result but our section times on track speak for themselves,” said Gallard. “I am comfortable with the PKMS truck now. When everything comes together we will be unstoppable.”

Struggling with power steering issues throughout the race weekend, Scott Modistach in the #496 Geiser Bros TT also recorded a DNF for the Finke.

The Toyo Tires Riverland Enduro kicks off on the 24th of July in Waikerie South Australia. Following a massive event in 2014, the 2015 enduro is already attracting the cream of the off-road racing community, with a podium hungry Team Toyo set to dominate.

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FINKE 2015: STRIKING POSITION

Over a tight, slippery, dusty prologue track Team Toyo has produced results. Toyo drivers occupy first, second and fourth position in X2WD.

Brad Gallard leads the trophy truck class in a threatening position, just 10 seconds off poll. Greg Gartner, despite a persistent voltage issue grabbed second in class. Hayden Bentley in the Racer Engineering #418 trophy truck has pulled in fourth in class and 19th outright.

Danny Brown came in at ninth outright with a clean performance bringing the #42 Pro-Class buggy in comfortably.

A recently graded prologue track made for a loose and slippery top surface, with all teams praising the Toyo Open Country M/T-R’s grip for giving them the confidence to push harder.

Brad Gallard logged a 5:13 over the eight-kilometre course putting the PKMS #454 fifth outright and in a striking position for tomorrows race.

The #454’s sister car, the Geisers Bros. #496 with Scott Modistach at the helm ran a clean 5:51, taking a more conservative approach.

“Prologue was clean, very skatey out there, there were no nice berms left so you couldn’t rail anything,” said Gallard.

“We’re first truck in and the only truck in the top 10, so in those conditions it was a top result.”

With a great start, Gallard is on track for a podium result.

“Take it as it comes day by day and keep charging. Hopefully we turn it into a really good weekend,” he said.

“We certainly have some fast cars in front of us but we are looking forward to chasing them down. We’ll get through 100k’s where the dust is really bad and out to where it gets rougher, that’s where we can we can charge some down.”

Danny Brown is eighth in Pro-Class buggy with a 5:17. The top ten spot will see the #42 enjoy a one minute dust gap for tomorrows Alice to Finke run.

“We had a clean run, we pushed but were a little bit conservative. The track was super slippery so we dropped the pressures beforehand for some traction and found plenty of grip.”

Even on the short track better suited to buggies, the prologue circuit was hard going.

“It’s all pretty close time wise, it’s really easy to overshoot a corner and lose time. It’s a challenging tight course, you don’t want to make any mistakes,” said Danny.

“The dust gap will be a massive advantage. We just want to get down there and with the dust passing will be hard. We have some markers we want to hit time wise, so as long we can keep on schedule we should be pretty good.”

Greg Gartner is the second X2WD across the line and 11th outright. The big Ford pulled a 5.20, despite a voltage issue creating drama.

“The truck kept cutting out, we had a good run halfway around but at about the three kilometre mark the engine started going. We were coming into a corner when it cut out and the truck went up on two wheels. We nearly rolled!”

Spectators remarked that even up on two wheels, Gartner refused to lift off the throttle.

“We didn’t lift, we couldn’t!” Gartner said. “We were pretty committed so we drove out of it and put it straight into the whoops on the limiter and kept going.

Gartner and the GGM team are tracking the voltage issue and will be ready to launch hard tomorrow morning.

“We’re pretty confident if we push hard we can make some time up, the truck feels comfortable, so we will have a red hot go.”

Hayden Bentley in the #419 trophy tracks maiden voyage ran a 5:28, claiming fourth in X2WD and 19th outright.

“We will have to put up with that, would have liked to be further up,” said Bentley. “It’s a work in progress, I am still getting used to the characteristics of the truck”.

“A bit more seat time will get our pace up, today was my fist drive in it,” he said.

Unfortunately, 2014 Finke Ironman Billy Geddes did not start. Niggling engine problems evolved into a blown motor. The custom nature of the motor meant it was unable to be replaced prior to this mornings kick off. Matthew Kittle also failed to finish prologue.

Pushing hard through the course in the #23 pro buggy Kittle was having a dream run; until the notorious last corner.

“I ended up on my lid” says Matthew. “I think I was pushing a bit too hard in the corner and overcorrected. It was only a very soft roll over, no damage.”

PKMS will apply to have Matthew seeded at an as yet unknown location through the field and will fight through the dust to make up position.

With hours to go until race o’clock, we offer unto our Toyo shod teams the sound advice of Billy Geddes… UPPA!

Full prologue results and timings here.