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ABC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
Finke Desert Race competitors walk away from crash after becoming airborne at 160kph
A Finke Desert Race driver and his navigator have walked away uninjured after a death-defying crash on day two of the gruelling Central Australian event. Driver Mick Magher said he and navigator Bernie Webb became airborne about 10 kilometres north of the Finke/Aputula community early on Monday morning. He said the trophy truck was travelling at about 160kph and the pair thought they were cruising for a drama-free drive home to Alice Springs after communications issues on day one of the race. "We just started to settle in and took off over the crest and just floated over [the track] ," Magher said. "The front has caught a dip on the way down and then it was just on for the ride. "There were bits flying everywhere. Magher said said the G-force in the cockpit was at about 17. "The safety gear certainly did its job," he said. "It's not something I recommend everybody try, that's for sure." Magher said he and Webb were feeling a bit sore with some bruising. "There's a few harness strap [bruises], so over the shoulder and the crotch straps," he said. "Other than that, we're both surprisingly well. Magher said he and Webb knew they had to get off the track as quickly as possible after the vehicle came to a halt. "We both turned around, looked at each other, said, 'You're alright?'" he said. Magher said it spectators helped move the car off the track. "The main cage and all that is surprisingly good — it only hit end-for-end," he said. Travis Robinson took out the prize for the car section of the race, Corey Hammond won the motorbike section and Madi Healey was awarded the Queen of the Desert title. Magher says he is committed to contesting next year's race, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the event.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
Travis Robinson, Corey Hammond and Madi Healey claim victory at 2025 Finke Desert Race in Alice Springs
One of the world's most extreme off-road races, the Finke Desert Race, has wrapped up in Alice Springs with a tight contest that included some unexpected wins. Drivers and riders in cars, motorbikes and buggies took on the treacherous 446-kilometre round-trip to the remote community of Apatula and back over the weekend-long event in Central Australia. About 10,000 spectators flocked to the central desert, camping along the picturesque racetrack, to cheer on the competitors in their bid for victory. In the car section of the race, Western Australian driver Travis Robinson flew across the finish line just outside of Alice Springs to snatch the crown from his former reigning champion brother Beau Robinson. The younger sibling clocked a total race time of 3 hours, 24 minutes and 35 seconds, with his brother hot on his heels arriving about five minutes later. "It's just a massive accomplishment, it's something that I've wanted to accomplish my whole life and haven't been able to do," Travis Robinson said minutes after claiming the glory. His brother, a former champion, said people "try their whole life to win" Finke and never get there, hailing his brother's victory. In the motorbike section, 23-year-old Corey Hammond was first to set off on Monday's 223-kilometre home stretch and the first to cross the finish line, as the Finke's newest King of the Desert. He stormed in first for bikes with a time of 3 hours, 46 minutes. "I knew we always had a chance, obviously a bit of bad luck for a few of the top boys who crashed out," he said. "Just always believed in myself." Another major victory was that of Madi Healey, who won the Queen of the Desert title for the second year in a row. "I think the rain made it a lot rougher this year," Ms Healey said. "I was really surprised by the square edges and all of that, but my bike and fitness and all that went really well, so I'm happy with it." The NT Health Department said 43 people were treated at the Alice Springs Hospital in relation to Finke. St John Ambulance director Andrew Thomas said those injured included one man who was airlifted to Alice Springs Hospital and onto Adelaide following a severe head injury acquired during the race. "One of the retrieval doctors from the Alice Springs Hospital stationed there, along with our staff, treated him," Mr Thomas said. He said the man was knocked unconscious and may have received a traumatic brain injury.
