Polaris buggy race team fortunate to escape blazing wreck at Finke Desert Race

A veteran race driver has described his horror Finke Desert Race ‘crash and burn’ as the ‘closest call’ he has had in his 30-year driving career.

The burnt out wreck of the team's Polaris buggy. Picture: Brett Murray

KINCROME Racing’s Simon Evans and co-driver Max O’Brien have been given the all-clear after a fiery crash in their SXS Polaris ended their Finke Desert Race.

Evans was displaying some good early speed into the 226-km opening leg from Alice Springs to Finke when he was baulked by a slower competitor and sent spearing off course where his car finished on its side and caught fire.

Co-driver Max O'Brien, left and Simon Evans before the crash. Picture: Brett Murray

Evans helped O’Brien from the car and then struggled to release himself as the flames took hold in what the seasoned veteran described as the “closest call” in his 30-year driving career.

Incredibly the cage, chassis and suspension arms of the car have survived the inferno and will be sandblasted before the car is rebuilt over the next couple of months.

“I have had bigger crashes, but that is the closest call I have had in a race car,” Evans said.

The Polaris in racing blue before the Finke crash. Picture: Brett Murray

“I managed to get Max out of the car, but then the fire really started to take a hold. I had to really calm myself down and think about what I was doing, because I was running out of time.

“I took a deep breath, closed my visor and then methodically worked my way out of the car.

“My helmet kept getting caught on the cage, but eventually I managed to get out and we just had to sit and watch as it burned to the ground.

“My wallet and phone and everything went up with it, so we will have to sort that out when we get home. I have some minor burns on my shoulder, but I am grateful that we both managed to get out relatively unscathed.’’

“With my phone melted into the desert, it might be a few days before I get to return everyone’s messages.”