He and navigator Dale Moscatt started today’s return to Alice Springs with a four-minute advantage over Ford rivals Brad and Byam Lovell, only for their charge to come to a stop just 39 kilometres in.
The issue is a suspected front suspension failure for the factory-backed Chevrolet Silverado, which was still more than two minutes ahead when it stopped.
The misfortune for the Chevrolet squad leaves Ford Performance in the box seat for a second consecutive win in the Production 4WD class, the Ranger Raptor currently en route to the finish in Alice Springs.