Last time I spoke with Terry Rose he wasnt going.

Chris

Rentschy deserves to start favourite but with a different car and a new motor and Finke being his first hit out for the year (as far as Iknow) he may have some dramas.

Fellows is always quick but has had limited time in the Jimco.

Burrows is also very good at Finke so I hope his prang does not set him back too much.

Bentley has been very consistant over the past few seasons and may be due for a win.

Chris Coulthard has a very good package and it was only a few silly little problems that cost him a probable win in WA.

Then there is Prout , Robinson, Chapman ,Phillips , Pinto, Gallard and others so I would say its as wide open as every round is now which is great for the sport.

The fact that there are so many at the top with both the machinery ($$$!) and talent to win it is awesome. 

I'd really like to see chris coulthard get up because his car is aussie desigined, engineered and built. 

Actually, a win by any aussie built car would be awesome.  The last national win by an aussie car was probably barbary's win at griffith in the rivvy I guess...  When was that - 02 maybe?

well i guessing Owen griffith 05

Yeah it was definately Glen Owen at Griffith in 05.  Prior to that was Brett Milton at Goondiwindi in 03 and before that was Svenson at Kempsey in 02.

This years race is very open and should be awesome to watch.

Matt has a couger ,Glen had a Rimco

Yeah - goodonya!

Whats the new car and power plant for Shannon?

As far as picking a favorite for outright honors, you would have to go with previous winners for safe money.
But just to through a dark horse in i think that Wayne Bannan could be a good bet. Awesome machine that is always beautifully prepared as well as a quick driver. Race record I think of 4 nationals entered and winning 2 of them.
Good luck to all racing!

The car is painted in Kittles colours but who knows what the set up is with regard to support.
THey help each other which is great.

I'm gonna tip Dave to win fron Shannon and Matt.

Well i'm glad i didn't put any money on the trifecta? My 3 tips were all out before the Bundoomba checkpoint. It's been a pretty high attrition rate amongst the top guys. Rentsch, Fellows, Coulthard, Gartner, Robinson, Hanson, etc, all gone, be interesting if any of them can rejoin for tomorrows section? Good to see Hayden Tatnell have a good run and he and Pinto will be hoping to pounce if Bentley has any sort of problems tomorrow. Crowe, Burrows and Svenson all took advantage of the attrition ahead of them to move up into good overall positions. Phillips was also working his way up to a good position early on, but must have had a minor problem which cost him some time, as he slipped back a fair way towards the end. The Pro-Lite battle is a good one between Fehlhaber, Watts and Kylma.

At the 2nd checkpoint (Bundoomba) Bentley has pulled out another 1/2 munute over Tatnell. Prout has consolidated 3rd place, ahead of Crowe and Burrows now only 1/2 minute behind on elapsed time. Pinto is next, followed by Svenson, Watt, Kylma, Phillips and Hawker. Bentley has now reached the 3rd checkpoint at Rodinga.

The leaders have now gone through Deep Well. No change. Bentley has eased his pace marginally with Tatnell pulling back a small amount of time. Buddy Crowe has responded to the Burrows challenge and consolidated his 4th place.

Hayden Bentley and Ben Chivell have crossed the finish line to win the 2007 Finke Desert race, their time 36 seconds quicker than the run down to Finke yesterday. Just waiting now for the minor placegetters to arrive.