BENTLEY MOTORSPORTS CONQUERS THE GOLDFIELDS: SAM BENTLEY CLAIMS SENSATIONAL OUTRIGHT VICTORY AT THE 2026 KALGOORLIE DESERT RACE

KALGOORLIE, WA

In one of the most commanding breakout performances in modern Australian off-road history, South Australian young gun Sam Bentley and navigator Ben have claimed an outright victory at the 2026 Penrite Kalgoorlie Desert Race, delivering a masterclass in pace, composure, and mechanical preservation across Western Australia’s red dirt.

Piloting the #819 Bentley Motorsports Toyo Tires Trophy Truck, the duo conquered the brutal three-day, 363-kilometre endurance contest—comprising three punishing 121-kilometre sections through the Goldfields—to seal victory in the fourth and final round of the 2026 Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC).

Total Domination Across the Goldfields Dirt

From the drop of the green flag, Bentley set an unrelenting benchmark. After putting the national field on notice by topping the timesheets in the opening section on Saturday, the Bentley Motorsports crew faced the ultimate test: defending clean air from the front of the grid as the rutted, bulldust-heavy circuit deteriorated under high horsepower.

While heavyweight contenders and championship frontrunners battled brutal track attrition, suspension-killing square-edge bumps, and blinding dust storms, Sam and Ben maintained a flawless tactical drive:

• Prologue & Section 1 Stunner: Bentley ignited the weekend by surging to the top of the outright standings on Saturday morning, holding off established championship stalwarts through heavy dust pockets.

• Controlling Section 2: Starting from P1 on Sunday morning, the crew executed a clean, disciplined second lap over the 121km loop, bringing the #819 truck back to the pits with zero mechanical penalties and a protected lead.

• The Final Charge to the Flag: In a tense final 121-kilometre sprint, Bentley kept the truck on song, navigating deep ruts and back marker traffic to take the chequered flag and the outright 2026 Kalgoorlie Desert Race title.

  
  

Generational Pedigree on the National Stage

Victory in Kalgoorlie marks a defining rite of passage for Sam Bentley, following directly in the tire tracks of his father,former Australian Off Road Champion Hayden Bentley.

“We had a really clean run, didn’t go off the track and that was our aim,” Bentley noted after laying down the weekend’s early benchmark. “We wanted to keep it smooth, that’s what we did, and I’m pretty happy with it.”

That calculated maturity proved decisive. While rivals pushed machinery beyond the breaking point—suffering flat tyres, communication failures, and driveline trauma in the unforgiving Western Australian outback—Bentley Motorsports delivered an uncompromising endurance clinic.

The Kalgoorlie Desert Race has cemented its status as Australia's premier desert racing grand finale. In conquering it outright, Bentley Motorsports has ushered in the next era of national off-road royalty.

Sources & Media References

• Race Photography: Trackside action and post-race podium celebration images courtesy of Bentley Motorsports and Jamie Neill.

• Official Event Timing & Technical Data: Sourced via the Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC) and Kalgoorlie Desert Race timing.
  

• Broadcast Syndication: Comiskey Mining Services Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship broadcast archives.