Navigator Roach and his driver Nunn will be behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid electric vehicle as a back-up/service crew team to the team of Steve Glenney and Bernie Webb.

It will be the first time an electric powered car has taken on about 3500 kilometres of rugged outback terrain of the Australasian rally, an event which is described as being the ‘‘ultimate endurance test of both man and machine’’.

‘‘They (Mitsubishi) are trying to showcase the car, which is an SUV electric hybrid which people use to run around town, as something that is capable of going off road as well,’’ Nunn said.

‘‘It will be a bit of a challenge, but they have been used in a couple of events in Asia, so I’m confident it will be fine.’’

Roach said it was exciting to be part of the event, with all forms of motor sport slowly moving in this direction.

‘‘A lot of motor sport is heading towards electric powered cars for races, so this is just the way of the future, but it is the first to go to an off-road event,’’ he said.

Nunn described the event as seven days of the outback, with a combination of sandy and rocky roads, with beaches also used, with the car, which also has a petrol engine, needing to be charged each night.

‘‘It will be massive challenge with some very long days to be had,’’ Nunn said.

‘‘The main challenge will be to get the car to the finish and prove that it is capable of coping with the rally.’’

Roach and Nunn have seven Targa Tasmanias between them and will also use their expertise as an auto-electrician (Roach) and mechanic (Nunn) during the rally if needed.

The Australasian Safari begins at the Wanneroo Showgrounds on September 20.