Garland, Brock in One-Two Desert Race Victory
August 27 2001

HOLDEN RALLY TEAM OFFICIAL PLACINGS - 2001 AUSTRALIAN SAFARI

The brand-new Holden Rally Team has scored a landmark victory, taking first and second outright in the 2001 Australian Safari international cross-country rally.

Defending champion Bruce Garland has scored a record fourth Safari win in his modified-category Holden Jackaroo, while teammate Peter Brock took second outright in his showroom-category Jackaroo. Des Harrington (Nissan Patrol ute) was third.

Garland was assisted to his victory by long-time co-driver Harry Suzuki. Brock's son James helped his father to his commanding position, with the good work then carried on by motoring journalist, Wayne Webster.

It was an event ruled by defending champions: in the moto division, last year's winner Andrew Caldecott (KTM 660 Rallye) took the crown again, followed by 1999 winner Stephen Greenfield (Honda XR650R). London-based Andrew Coaker (KTM 660 Rallye) was third.

Jackaroo has taken Garland and Suzuki to all their previous Safari victories, but this is the first year that Holden has provided official factory backing. It's also the first year of a two-car Holden team and the victory is very satisfying for all concerned.

"It is absolutely fantastic to finish a hard race like this with this result," says Garland, who is internationally recognised as one of the world's top professional rally drivers.

"Both Pete and I have had our fair share of dramas over the last eight days, but the cars have proved themselves pretty much unbreakable. This is one of the roughest, toughest events in the whole world and I think the results show just how strong and reliable the Holden Jackaroo is, no matter what you throw at it."

"I think we'll surprise a lot of people with this result," says Brock, who is no stranger to offroad racing, having placed second (with Webster) to Garland and Suzuki in the 1998 Round Australia rally.

"You can't afford to get carried away in the conditions we've been dealing with. I've been driving to what the conditions allow relative to the performance of the car. This is a showroom class car - a vehicle anyone can buy from their Holden dealer and this is what it can do. It's a fantastic result and it's a great feeling to have achieved it."

"We're absolutely delighted with the result," says Simon Carr, Marketing Manager, Light Commercial and Recreational Vehicles for Holden.

"The preparation of the cars and the ongoing teamwork by the Holden Rally Team crew were outstanding and this is what brought them home. Their efforts mirror Holden's company philosophy on teamwork and attention to detail throughout all levels.

"With Jackaroo's fourth win of this incredibly demanding event, it firmly entrenches Holden as King of the Outback," Mr Carr says.

The Holden Rally Team and its rivals covered 4426km during the eight-day event which ran from Alice Springs to Darwin, finishing on Mindil Beach late yesterday (Sunday). Of that, 2605km was divided into 24 competitive stages which were run against the clock over some of the roughest terrain in the Northern Territory. A total of 65 teams ('cars'/bikes) entered.