Toby Price has cemented his place in the Finke Desert Race history books by winning Australia’s toughest off-road race for the ninth time.
Price claimed victory in the car section for the third consecutive event, notching a record-breaking ninth overall title in the process.
The Gold Coast-based international star drove his trophy truck from Finke to Alice Springs on day two in a time of 01:43:11, alongside navigator Jason Duncan, to finish with an overall time of 03:21:46.
“I can’t put it into words to have nine titles out here,” Mr Price said.
“Finke is one of the toughest races to try and be consistent in, and to be able to [win] — we’re over the moon.”
Price said the race was tough on his truck.
“The track was pretty good. It had moisture to start there,” he said.
“We just took our time and got through.
“It was a little bit more sharp and square on the edges.”
Price said he was committed to returning next year to attempt his tenth podium win.
Twelve years between podiums
2011 King of the Desert Greg Gartner finished second, with Travis Robinson taking third place and extending his Motorsports Australia off-road champion lead.
Gartner finished six minutes behind Price in an overall time of 03:27:48.
Gartner said he didn’t expect to finish in second position.
“We’ve tried and tried and tried for a lot of years to get back on that podium,” he said.
“To get where we got to is amazing.”
Following a six-year hiatus, Travis Robinson returned to finish in third alongside navigator Andrew Pinto, despite mechanical issues.
“It was a horrible run but we got here,” he said.
“I think the engine finally let go and it was starting to overheat and wouldn’t let us rev.
“So it’s actually good that we still got here in third with all the adversity … we got through it like a team.”
Walsh scores fourth King of the Desert
In the bike section of the race, Alice Springs local and four-time King of the Desert David Walsh stormed home in 01:49:23 on day two to claim overall first place, with an overall time of 01:49:23.
Walsh said he felt strong coming over the line in first position.
“I pushed a little bit harder home on the flat, fast straights, and got through the rough stuff because I knew the boys are going to be coming for me,” he said.
He said he wasn’t committing to defend his title in 2024.
