Event organiser Brett Price has labelled the final leg of the event as “extremely successful”.  

Greg Gartner and Jamie Jennings were outright winners of the Rainbow Desert Enduro with a time of five hours, 23 minutes, five seconds and 146 milliseconds. 

Matthew Martin was the biggest winner. 

He was fourth at Rainbow, which was enough for him to claim the 2017 CAMS Australian Off-Road Championship. The championship was raced over three legs. 

Only two points separated Martin from runners-up Chris Browning and Chris Clarke. 

Price said the changing of weather wasn’t ideal but it made the event even more entertaining for spectators. 

“We dealt with (the rain) and the competitors managed well,” he said. 

“We’ve been receiving a lot of good feedback from the town and the competitors and we hope to be back next year.” 

Price said the competition was fierce. 

“The two highest qualifiers competed side-by-side,” Price said. “They were only three seconds apart.” 

In such a high speed, outback-terrain sport Price said there was always bound to be crashes. 

“A couple broke down and one guy hit a tree,” he said. 

“There were two minor injuries – one guy had an ankle sprain and the other had sore shoulders.

“One competitor had burns on his hands while doing engine work. West Wimmera Health Service helped them out promptly.” 

Due to the conditions competitors weren’t able to meet their top speeds. 

“It was a bit slippery. Cars were still getting up to 80 kilometres an hour.

“But stuff can be fixed relatively easy. The competitors understand that motorsport can throw all kinds of thing at you,” Price said.

About 1000 competitors flocked to Rainbow to watch the final leg of the national championship. 

Price said he was thankful for support from Hindmarsh Shire and the West Wimmera Health Service. 

“We’re looking forward to next year… Hopefully there will be less rain,” he said. 

Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor Debra Nelson said it was a fantastic event. 

“It was fantastic to see so many people in town on Friday and we look forward to hosting it again,” she said.