Oz Safari going out with a bang

The preliminary entry lists for the 2014 Australasian Safari in Western Australia – the event's swansong – have been released, with the event attracting the largest number of competitors seen since moving west in 2007.

The 127 competitors will depart from Wanneroo Showgrounds in Perth on September 20, which will be followed by seven days and 3500km of gruelling outback terrain.

The motorcycle category will feature four-time Baja 1000 champion and 2011 Dakar Rookie of the Year, American Quinn Cody (KTM), as well last year's Australasian Safari champion Rodney Faggotter (Yamaha).

Faggotter's teammate will be experienced South Aussie Shane Diener, and the trio looks to be a class above, especially with long-time Safari campaigners Todd Smith and Jacob Smith not competing in 2014.

The Dakar Challenge category takes on an international flavour, with moto competitors American Ian Blythe, Italians Ermanno Innocenti and Cesare Zacchetti, and local riders Matthew Bates and Neil Orme all vying to take home the coveted prize of free entry into the 2015 Dakar Rally.

This year's event has one of the most diverse fields of vehicles with a record number of side-by-side entrants, the inclusion of hybrid vehicles and ‘everyday driven' four-wheel drives joining the mix - including a Jeep Wrangler being piloted by Matt Brogan, a journalist with Bikesales' sister website motoring.com.au.

The Auto category has attracted some familiar Australian motorsport faces, with the likes of Targa Tasmania winner and Dubai 24-hour GT race winner Tony Quinn and Australian Rally Championship couple Simon and Margot Knowles. International auto teams from Slovenia, Spain and Thailand will join them.

Heath Young and John Maragozidis are back to battle it out in the quads category, while there are eight side-by-side vehicles dominated by Polaris and Can-Am.

Jim Cairns is the first paraplegic to enter Safari, and he will be piloting a specially fitted out SxS vehicle. Jim was a moto competitor on the first Wynns Safari in 1985, but on the event he was involved in an accident, resulting in his paraplegia.

The competitors and the 400 plus event crew will gather in Wanneroo to complete the final vehicle checks and formalities. Once leaving the metropolitan area, the event will travel to Geraldton, Murchison, Gascoyne Junction, Exmouth, Carnarvon, before finally reaching the finish line in Kalbarri on Saturday, September 29.

The 2014 Australasian Safari will be the final event. Spectators are encouraged to take advantage of the last chance to celebrate and farewell this Australian motorsport icon at the Safari Show held at Wanneroo Showgrounds from 4:00pm on Friday, September 19.

This free family event hosted by the City of Wanneroo will give spectators the chance to experience the legendary Safari atmosphere, and see the competitors and their tough racing machines up close.

Click HERE for the entry lists across all two and four-wheel categories.