Total points are added up at the finish and the Auckland team of Scott Biggs and co-driver brother Jarred were consistent throughout the dozen events in their Chev 6 litre LS2 engine-powered truck.
Whanganui's Hamish Auret and co-driver Paul Barnes had to settle for runnerup for the second year, competing with their new 7 litre LS7 engine, which they installed in February for the Pirtek Wanganui 7000cc Corvette.
Similar to last year, Auret had a bad start on the opening obstacle, taking only 100 points from the Cowper Trucks "No Guts No Glory".
"I managed to get through the rest of the field but I couldn't catch Scott. He drove brilliantly all day and he deserved it," said Auret.
"The first guy being 800 points or so ahead of Hamish, he knew before the last course he couldn't be beaten," said Cowper.
Wellington's Phil Conwell, with Wanganui 4WD Club president Paul Chapman as co-driver, finished third.
Auret had said earlier in the day they got hung up on the first hazard.
"We lost transmission, been back to the pits.
"The motor's great, very happy with that. It's running cooler and it's happier, the engine's brilliant.
"It's a lot tougher [than 2015], but that's great, that's what it's about. The crowd want to see big, hard hazards."
The 2015 defending champion Andrew Garner of Tauranga agreed the new obstacles were "way more difficult".
"Every hazard, I feel that adrenaline sort of starting to pump before you start. You don't normally get that."
Garner's anxiety was justified as the fourth obstacle - Roof Improvements Long Run Roller Coaster - had both a decisive and dangerous effect on the points chase.
It was a time-based obstacle and Wellington's Dave Howat showed the driver's determination to finish as despite being spun around when tumbling back down to the startline, he was nearly able to adapt and finish the course driving in reverse.
Garner would break his axle at the bottom of the hill of the Roller Coaster, which ended his day, but the biggest concern was Kapiti's Warren Jeffery, who rolled his truck front end first.
Co-driver Mark Pincock emerged unhurt, but Jeffery remained in the truck with chest and back pain.
Course officials and other drivers eventually cut off part of the roll cage so he could be lifted out and taken by stretcher to the ambulance. The drivers continued on and although he could not catch Biggs, Auret would eventually steal the show when he claimed the other $500 for the final course - Hermansen Contracting Ball Buster.
As the Ball Buster finishes with a sheer face, as he had planned, Auret was the only one to attempt the prospect of a full 360 degree backflip, and he created history as the first New Zealander to achieve it, with the feat having been tried twice in the United States, only once successfully.
It meant Auret went home with a tonne of prizes - including a $2500 tyre set for "Best in Show" for his stunning flip.
"That's what Hamish won. No one could top him," Cowper said.
"I had my sights set on it," Auret said on achieving his death-defying goal.
"Thank you to Dan Cowper for the grand prizes. He spent a lot and gave a lot to the drivers."
In addition, Auret received a water blaster, while he and Barnes each earned a year's supply of Optimo laundry powder for their success on the 11th obstacle sponsored by the brand - aptly named Dirt Destroyer.
TV3's CRC Motorsport filmed the event and it will be screened over four episodes on Sundays from May 15 to June 5.
"It was a massive day, twice as big as last year," said Cowper. "All the competitors are all for it. They reckon it's the future of 4x4."
