Riley/Doble win 2011 Australasian Safari

In their Mitsubishi Pajero sponsored by the Cairns Coconut Resort , the Victorians took a cautious approach to the week, which helped them win this year and make it a trifecta of Australasian Safaris - 2011, 2009 and 2008.

"My team are legends, I couldn't have done it without them. We are close-knit and this is the result weve been looking for," Riley said.

"I've been aiming for this all year."

Riley and Doble had a lucky break in Leg 5 when Craig Lowndes rolled the PWR Holden Colorado in its side. Lowndes, with co-driver John Panozzo, was leading at the time, but the accident, and subsequent time penalty put the former V8 Supercar champ out of contention for the win.

West Australians John Purshouse and David McShane in a Mitsubishi Triton took second place, not bad for their first Australasian Safari. It was also their first significant podium finish in a rally event.

"I'm ecstatic. It's a new vehicle and hadn't been tested until the Safari," Purshouse said.

"We are first time Safari entrants and absolutely thrilled to take second place. We couldn't ask for anything more."

Fellow Sandgropers Adrian Dilallo and Rob Masi made it a Mitsubishi 1-2-3 when they placed third in their production-class Mitsubishi Pajero Evo, a move up the ladder from sixth place in 2010.

"We're really pleased, it's like getting to the never-ending finish line. It's an awesome feeling especially with Lowndsey trying to catch us," Dilallo said.

After a 10+ hour penalty for the leg 5 roll, Lowndes/Panozzo blazed through the final two legs to get close to Dilallo/Masi, but fell 34 minutes short of claiming the final podium slot. There was some consolation for Lowndes in that he won 15 of the Safari's 17 competitive stages. Through 4000km of harsh outback, this year's Safari threw everything at the competitors - rocks, soft sand, mud, trees, severely rutted ground from recent rains, barely visible tracks and tricky navigation. Ten competitors completed the Safari, with five failing to finish.

2011 Australasian Safari
Final Standings - AUTO

Entrants Vehicle Total Time
1. Riley/Doble 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero 31:46:43
2. Purshouse/McShane 2009 Mitsubishi Triton 33:36:45
3. Dilallo/Masi 1999 Mitsubishi Evo Pajero 35:13:27
4. Lowndes/Panozzo 2003 Holden Colorado 35:45:57
5. Young/McBean 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero 36:39:26
6. Muldrew/Earle 2004 Mitsubishi Pajero 36:50:28
7. Conner/Conner 1995 Nissan GQ Patrol 37:15:11
8. Trairat/Suzuki 2007 Isuzu D-Max 39:02:24
9. Innal/Smith 2010 Mitsubishi Challenger 39:21:34
10. Herridge/Batten 2008 Subaru Forester XT 42:06:55

For full results, stage results and further details, go to www.australasiansafari.com.au