SA done proud at gruelling Dakar

This year’s Dakar Rally brought the best out of South African teams, competitors and vehicle manufacturers.

So says Archie Rutherford, chief executive of the South African Cross Country Series. (SACCS)

“All the South African participants did us proud and the incentive is there for other teams and individuals to follow their dream to experience the Dakar,” Rutherford added.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing squad spearheaded the South African attack with Hilux bakkies.

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel finished second, while Giniel de Villiers and Alex Haro finished a credible eight overall after a litany of punctures.

Shameer Variawa and Dennis Murphy suffered many punctures and a broken sideshaft, to finally finish 21st overall.

Privateers Brian Baragwanath and navigator Taye Perry overcame a plethora of challenges, including a barrel roll on stage six, to finish 32nd in their South African-designed and built Century Racing CR6.

In the Lightweight Vehicle class, seven of South African constructor Stuart Thompson’s Can-Am cars finished in the top-10 places.

Less fortunate in this year’s merciless 4 500km epic were Toyota Gazoo’s Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings and Botswanan rider Ross Branch (Monster Energy Yamaha).

Multiple SACCS overall production vehicle champion Lategan crashed out of the rally early in stage five, fortunately only suffering minor injuries.

Branch placed his Yamaha fourth at the halfway mark, but was sidelined with mechanical failure on stage 9. – Own Correspondent

Picture: Getty Images MADE IN SA. Brian Baragwaneth and Taye Perry brought their South African-designed and built Century Racing CR6 to the Dakar finish, despite a violent barrel-roll around the halfway mark.