Motorsport Tough, long, rough ...
WINNER: DAKAR VETERAN DE VILLIERS, MURPHY WIN THE KALAHARI BOTSWANA 1000
Only three vehicles managed to complete the race in the Interprovincial SxS Challenge.
Last weekend’s Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race, round three of the 2018 South African Cross Country Championship, was tough, long and rough.
Hardly surprising then, that Dakar Rally veteran Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy came out tops with their Toyota Gazoo Hilux bakkie, winning the race overall and the FIA Class.
They finished comfortably ahead of Class T winners Johan and Werner Horn (Malalane Toyota Hilux), with Gary Bertholdt/ Geoff Minnitt (Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux) third, leading home Brazilian team in the Marcos Baumgart/ Kleber Cincea in their NWM Ford Ranger,
The Class S victory went to Heinie Strumpher/Henri Hugo (Toyota Hilux), who finished fifth overall after narrowly beating Terence Marsh/Riaan Greyling (Red-Lined Motorsport Nissan Navara).
In the process, Marsh and Greyling won the Toyota-sponsored Road to Dakar Challenge which gives them a free entry into next year’s Dakar Rally.
Behind them, desert race stalwart Jannie Visser and his son Chris (Toyota Hilux) finished second in Class S, with David Huddy/ Gerhardt Schutte (Nissan Navara) rounding off the Class S podium and claiming eighth place on the overall standings.
The winner of the Rookie Class on the 2018 Dakar Rally, Hennie de Klerk, teamed up with Japie Badenhorst (Treasury One VW Amarok) to finish ninth overall and fourth in Class T.
Rounding out the top 12 places were Gareth Woolridge/Boyd Dreyer (NWM Ford Ranger), Brian Baragwanath/Leonard Crem- er (CR6) and Dutch pairing Maik Willems/Rob van Pelt (Red-Lined Motorsport Nissan Navara).
Notable retirees included Henk Lategan/Barry White (Toyota Gazoo Hilux), Chris Visser/Phillip Herselman (Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux), Johan van Staden/Mike Lawrenson (Elf Renault Duster), Jacques van Tonder/Sammy Redelinghuys (Ford Ranger), Richard Leeke/Danie Stassen (BMW X3) and Malcolm Kock/Sean van Staden (Toyota Hilux).
The father-daughter team of Coetzee Labuscagne and Sandra Labuscagne-Jonck (4x4 Mega World ARB Porter) won the Special Vehicle category after consistent runs on all three days.
They were followed by John Telford/Victor Ntsekhe (Calcamite BAT Warbird), with Keith du Toit/ Carolyn Swan (BAT) rounding out the overall podium places.
Botswana crew Julio Ferreira/ Onakebetse Seemise (Sandmaster) finished fourth overall. They were also the last team to complete all three days of racing in the Botswana desert.
Top retirees included John Thomson/Maurice Zermatten (Zarco Challenger), Kobus/ Marinda Fourie (BAT), Dean Bradbury/Timmy Botes (BAT Venom), Stefan van Pletzen/Jaco Pieterse (Live Lesotho Chenowth). Lance Trethewey/Adriaan Roets (BAT Venom), Nic Goslar/Andrew Massey (SA Clinics Zarco Magnum) and Tony Gouveia/Tinus le Roux (CRT).
Only three SxS vehicles managed to complete the race in the Interprovincial SxS Challenge. The class was won by Nico du Rand/JG Claassen (Can-Am), followed by Peter Walters/Shaun de Villiers (Can-Am Maverick X30) and Ashley Bradbury/Hein van Staden (Can-Am Maverick X3).