On the Brink Motorsport

Well, it’s been a busy start to 2023 for our team at On the Brink Motorsport. Not one to sit around and watch the grass grow, I have a few (some may say a few too many!) irons in the fire for 2023/24. We are competing in all rounds of the AORC, QRC and several other events such as Heartlands Rally and Sunraysia Safari this year in the lead up to tick one off the ‘’Bucket List’’ this year, The 2024 Dakar in a PH Sort Prepared Zephyr. Following is a report of our year so far. Some good and some not so good but a great experience to date nonetheless.

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25th Feb -3rd March

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Car: PH Sport-Zephyr

Co-Driver: Dale Moscatt

Result: DNF Crash in last stage

What can I say! What could have been. With Almost 1200km competitive stages of 100% sand dunes . The biggest you will ever see, this event had everything we needed in preparation for our upcoming Dakar experience in January 2024 Heaps of pre-event testing with the very experienced Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi to show me the ropes. A steady prologue and a solid start to the event for the first 4 days put us in a great position heading in to the last day 3rd overall in the highly competitive T3 class, only to have a small rollover in the desert losing about 40minutes, followed not long after with a comprehensive end for end roll about 100km from the finish. Totally my fault following too close to another competitor on a small clay road between dunes This ended with a helicopter flight to hospital which fortunately despite first diagnosis turned out to require only some stitches to my right leg and some minor internal injuries to Navigator Dale Moscatt would see us head home on time for our next event in Australia. The Medical team and their expertise is something to behold that’s for sure The car has since been repaired and lives to see another day Onwards and upwards they say!

10th

-12th

March - Gold City 400-Charters towers

Round 1 Aust off Road Championship

Car: CanAm Maverick X3

Co-Driver: Dale Moscatt

Result: 3rd Outright SXS Turbo series

Well to say I was nervous for this event was an understatement. Less than a week after our Dubai accident, I didn’t want to become ‘’That Guy’’ who always crashes Started out very cautiously but soon got into the rhythm and a solid start to our AORC campaign would net us 3rd overall for the weekend. Pretty happy with that and to have the opportunity to get back on the horse so quickly! This awesome track really suited SXS’s with James Cook also in a CanAm, winning the Event outright for the first time in AORC history 400km competitive seemed like a Rallysprint after the week before in Dubai!

28th March - Roo systems Manumbar

Round 1 Qld Rally Championship

Car Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9

Co-driver: Steven Richardson

Result: 1st Outright

Time to get back in Ole faithful. And also put the Old experienced Co-Driver Richo back in for a spin. This is one of those cars that at the end of the event it still fells a good as when you started. The rally had everything from Dust to torrential rain which would eventually hand us the win. Despite only winning one stage behind the blindingly fast Ryan Williams in his new ride the WRX we were lucky when Ryan parked up for a bit in the mud. He’ll be a tough one to beat but we will take what we can as we aim to have another crack at the next round Rally Queensland 22nd/ 23rd July at Gympie.

21st-23rd April - Pooncarie Desert dash - Round 1 Aust off Road Championship

Car: CanAm Maverick X3

Co-Driver: Dale Moscatt

Result: 1st outright SXS Turbo Series

After our DNF here last year, Dale and I knew what we had to do. It’s a long lap 110km and the key is to circulate no matter the speed or problems you have. After another terrible prologue (I need to get better at these!!) we started behind some slower cars and with the thick dust it was impossible to pass anyone even with Rallysafe and the best pacenote caller in the country sitting beside me, I still can’t commit to what you can’t see! FYI, a lap around this track is over 100 pages of notes for Dale to not only write and prepare, but then constantly read them out for over 3 hours. Dropping a few minutes to the SXS leaders we started out Sunday which was 3 laps (330kms) behind two pro-buggies, which fortunately for us they both dnf’d early so we had a dust free run for the entire race On top of the that the leading entry of James Cook dnf’d after running out of fuel midway, this would elevate us in the field and we managed to finish the weekend with 1st Outright in the SXS series. A decent result considering how the weekend started and our 1st ever win in the series.

28th-30th April - Rally of the Heartland - Burra South Aust

Car: Ford Escort Cosworth

Co-Driver: Scott Beckwith

Result: DNF Stage 5 Water in Engine!

This was probably one of my most eagerly awaited events finally getting to get the ‘’Cossie’’ out in a real rally with the new engine fitted The initial dyno runs had been mind-blowing however a short test that saw the gearbox destroy 3rd gear, left the guys at RallyTorque busy fitting a new gearbox. Of course, they got the car ready in time and we started the event well, managing to lead the event outright after 5 stages only to come to a service back in Burra with a small miss appearing in the engine Following an inspection, number 2 was full of water, so we shut it down to save any further damage. Clearly the right decision was made. We have a rebuild going on at present, but this could have been much worse had we continued. I guess this is unfinished business now so we will return next year for another crack at what is arguably one of the best events in the country, both in organisation and road selection The next event for the ‘’Cossie’’ is Leyburn Historic Sprints in late August, and we head to Finke in June

For this edition, we had the chance to talk with junior driver, Sally Martin to share a bit about herself and her journey in motorsport.

Age: 14

Current Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Coupe

How long have you been involved with Motorsport and what started your journey in Motorsport?

I’ve been racing for just on 12 months, I’ve just recently renewed my Motorsport Australia License for the first time. My Grand dad (Pap) bought me a car off his friends, which will be my first car when I get my road license My Uncle was competing in Khanacross, so we thought it would be a good idea to try it out. We went to an event a watched and I was hooked. When I got there I was amazed at how many people raced, I watched everyone have a go, I loved hearing the car engines roar, but not only that I loved watching the competitors racing. My Pap thought we could use my car for a few events and when I got better and faster, we would have to put my white Lancer back in the shed and buy an older car that I could flog, but at the end of my first event, Pap realised that I might need an old banger sooner rather than later, so he bought me the Silver Lancer that I race now. I started racing when I was 13 and at the end of that first year I won the Junior Championship and the Ladies Championship, I was awarded two trophies, I was stoked.

What is your favourite thing about the sport and community of Motorsport?

My favourite thing about motorsport is how I can do things that a lot of others can’t. I also meet a lot of new people and one day hope to become a professional race car driver. Competing in Khanacross also helps you become a better driver and you learn how to control a car.

I loved how everyone was so welcoming and how well people knew each other In my time in the GCTMC a lot of people have helped me and Pap, not only with advice, but also donating equipment. Glenn Brinkman has been fantastic, he has taken me for a lap in his rally car and he even gave us a race harness for my Lancer.

If you were to describe Motorsport in 5 words, what would they be?

Adventurous, fun, control, life changing, learning/knowledge.