AM MAGAZINE SHELL - Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine

4WDSAFARI DREAM COMES TRUE FOR SARAHNew Zealander Sarah Twaddle is set to become just the 12th female driver to evertackle the Australasian Safari when she takes her Mitsubishi Evolution Pajero to thestart line in Kalgoorlie on August 23.While eight woman have entered the event on a bike and otherwoman have been co-drivers, Twadle will become part of a smallclub to tackle Australia's most gruelling motorsport event.The chance to take part in her first Australasian Safari is a dreamcome true for the Kiwi.Twaddle and co-driver, Damian Grahame, will be part of a two-carteam, with the second car driven by Jason Pearce, with Sarah'sfather, Brent Twaddle, in his navigator's seat. The team will have fivepeople following the rally to service both the cars and the crews.While the concept of spending spare time among the ruggedness,dust and mud of an off-road rally in outback Australia may seemextreme for most, the Christchurch twenty-five-year-old can't wait."I have been following the Australasian Safari since my fatherbecame involved with helping run and organise this great event," MsTwaddle said."The two of us always dreamed that we would one day do thisevent together as a father-daughter team, but I never thought itwould be with me driving in one vehicle and him navigating inanother."Twaddle has competed as a navigator in the last two 'Condo 750'rallies in outback New South Wales, so competition isn't new to her."I have been brought up on motorsport from a very early age, withmy parents organising New Zealand's biggest off-road rally inOmarama and Twizel (in the South Island) for many years."However, driving in this style of event will present a completelynew experience for Twaddle. She will be behind the wheel of arecently imported Mitsubishi Evolution Pajero in the AustralasianSafari and compete in the A1-1 Production 4X4 class.While the vehicle is only lightly modified, it will have all the safetyequipment fitted, including a full six-point roll cage. CompetitionProflex suspension is also being installed by the Sydney-based RooRacing team.The two of us always dreamed that we would oneday do this event together as a father-daughter team,but I never thought it would be with me driving in onevehicle and him navigating in another.Whether you're a male or a female, competing in an arduous eventlike the Australasian Safari is hard work, and competitors face manychallenges along the way. For Twaddle, her biggest challenge will begetting used to the Pajero."I will only see the car the day before the rally, so I won't knowhow it handles," she says. "The first couple of days we will just gosteady and pick the pace up as the event goes on. The WA sand willbe a challenge too, as we have nothing like it in New Zealand."The next biggest challenge is that I am gluten sensitive, and itwill be interesting trying to find a good meal."The goal of getting to the finish will be paramount for Twaddleacross the seven days of competition."In this kind of event the first goal is always to finish. But mostly,it is about showing everyone that a female can compete with theboys, and keep up with them - especially a New Zealand female,who works front-line in a hotel everyother day."It's likely that Twaddle will beat manyof her male counterparts in the event aswell, something she often achieves whenracing go-karts back home in NewZealand.Before she can celebrate such a feat,however, there are sevendays of driving and around3000 kilometers ofcompetitive stages tocontend with.Starting in Kalgoorlie onSaturday, August 23, theAustralasian Safari isexpected to attract a strongfield of competitors. Afterleaving the gold miningtown, it visits Sandstone,Meekatharra, Mt Magnet and Geraldton, before finishing in Perth onSaturday, August 30.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E AU G U ST 2 0 0 8 81