Rianna and Mia Carlson believed to be the youngest duo to contest the Finke Desert Race

A teenage Darwin driver-navigator duo is set to make history at an iconic Central Australian off-road race.

For 10 embarrassing minutes hanging upside down, a young Darwin driver thought her dreams had been shattered.

Rianna Carlson, 19, and navigator sister Mia, 17, are set to become what is believed to be the youngest duo to ever contest the Finke Desert Race in June in a side-by-side buggy.

“We’ve always been begging dad to do it but he just never had enough time,” Rianna said.

However, several months ago, Rianna was concerned her vision of contesting the iconic Central Australian race alongside her sister – after several years of watching as a spectator – was over before it started, following a crash in regional South Australia.

After the Carlson family bought a buggy in late 2021 with designs of making their Finke debut the following year, organisers changed entry conditions following the death of a photographer.

The sisters had to complete a certain amount of national round races to enter in 2023, and spent much of last year getting their required points up.

Rianna and Mia Carlson are set to be the youngest duo to take on the Finke Desert Race in history. Picture: Carlson Racing 629.

However, in the regional town of Loveday last year, the girls flipped their buggy in front of a local tavern packed with people at their first national meet, and Rianna was left thinking the worst.

“We were upside down for about 10 minutes,” she said.

“It was a bit embarrassing.

“I thought I’d stuffed it ... we thought we’d be out (of the competition), we didn’t know what the damage was.”

Luckily, the impact wasn’t as bad as first thought and the pair eventually won a $1000 “show pony” award for their rollover — awarded to the driver who plays up to the tavern crowd the most.

Rianna loves the “heart-racing” intensity of the races which brings the entire family together, including mechanic/benefactor/transporter father Aaron and mum Tina, in charge of official photography.

Rianna and Mia Carlson in action at a recent meet. Picture: Carlson Racing 629.

“We all go down for the races. Everyone in the family loves it,” she said.

Rianna and Mia have grown up together driving buggies around the bush in Darwin.
“We’ve always had a pretty good bond ... she was always sitting next to me,” she said.

“There are times that you do crash ... it bonds you in a different way I suppose, as weird as that is.

“I’m excited (about Finke), there’s not many NT competitors in the cars competition.”

With entry to Finke $2000, the girls are encouraging supporters to donate to their cause. Contact Rianna on 0490 046 483 for more information.