Australian Off Road Championship

Australian Off Road Championship
CategoryOff-road racing
CountryAustralia
Inaugural season1981
Drivers' championJack Rhodes (2016)
Constructors' championJimco (United States)
Official websitewww.aorc.com.au

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

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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.

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2018 events

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List of past winners

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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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Specific Requirements for Off Road Vehicles". 2017 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport. 2017.
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