Important update regarding plumbed-in fire extinguishers

Motorsport Australia advises competitors of a rule change regarding the installation of plumbed-in fire extinguishers in off road vehicles participating in the remainder of the 2026 season, following review of the findings and recommendations made by Coroner Ingrid Giles published on 12 August 2026 in relation to the tragic deaths of Gerald Hoesktra and Ede Taric at the Rainbow Desert Enduro Race in 2022.

The Coroner commended Motorsport Australia for swiftly amending certain regulations after the incident but considered that plumbed-in fire extinguishers need to be mandated “expeditiously” and “sooner than three years”. The Coroner recommended that Motorsport Australia and the Australian Auto-Sport Alliance “require, with immediate effect or otherwise before the end of the 2026 racing season, that all off-road vehicles participating in sanctioned off-road racing events be fitted with plumbed-in fire extinguisher systems”.

Motorsport Australia supports this Coronial recommendation. It improves safety equipment for off-road events and the welfare of the entire sporting community.

Effective immediately, it is mandatory for every competitor vehicle at national Australian Off Road Championship (AORC), club and state level off road competitions to have plumbed-in fire extinguishers fitted.

Plumbed-in fire extinguishers provide the fastest and most efficient method to suppress an onboard fire in the event of an incident, and many competitors have already opted to install the system aboard their vehicles.

The cost of the unit and installation, and the subsequent service intervals, are modest when the lives of competitors, officials, and first-responders are at risk.

WHERE AND HOW TO PURCHASE

The plumbed-in systems are relatively straightforward to install when following a manufacturer’s installation guidelines, or they can also be installed by a qualified professional.

Motorsport Australia has contacted suppliers to ensure sufficient product is readily available. Racer Industries has secured increased stock levels to ensure that every competitor has access to the required fire extinguisher.

Each extinguisher bottle will have their own recommended service intervals, and it is the responsibility of the competitor to ensure their fire extinguishers are up-to-date and serviced by a qualified professional – especially if a unit has been activated.

Specific technical requirements of approved fire extinguisher systems can be found in FIA Technical List #16, FIA Technical List #52, and SFI Specification 17.1.

Schedule H of the Motorsport Australia Technical Appendix outlines the requirements of a plumbed-in fire extinguisher. This, and other sections of the Motorsport Australia Manual, are updated annually and it is best to regularly check to ensure your vehicle is compliant at any given time.

EXTINGUISHER TYPES

For the SXS Pro, SXS Sport, Production 4WD, Super 1650 and Sports Lite classes, all vehicles must be fitted with a plumbed-in fire extinguisher that is 2kg/5lb, or above, in capacity.

For the Extreme 2WD, Extreme 4WD, Pro Buggy, Prolite, and Performance 2WD classes, all vehicles must be fitted with a plumbed-in fire extinguisher that is 3kg/10lb in capacity.

This is separate to the requirement to fit separate handheld fire extinguishers inside the cabin, and externally. Refer to Table H-1 in Schedule H, which outlines the minimum capacity required.

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you are having difficulty securing these items, have any questions or concerns about this requirement, please contact Motorsport Australia’s Off Road or Technical departments by emailing offroad@motorsport.org.au or technical@motorsport.org.au.

Yours sincerely,

Josh Blanksby

CEO

Motorsport Australia