Easy start in Natal rally
WINNING DUO: BOTTERILL AND VACY LYLE FINISH OVER 3 MINUTES AHEAD OF RIVALS
Podium places battled fading brakes and spins.
Toyota’s Gazoo Racing Etios crew Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy Lyle started the 2017 SA Rally Championship in style at the weekend, when they won the season-opening Tour Natal Rally around Scottburgh with ease.
The crew finished a commanding 3 min 22 seconds ahead of their nearest competitors after nine gravel stages and 134km of racing through the South Coast sugar plantations.
Botterill effectively clinched the event in the first stage when he beat his rivals by 15 seconds and kept up his relentless pace.
The second place went to Richard Leeke/Henry Kohne (ATS Ford Fiesta R2), after an eventful run, which included a huge spin and some off-road excursions due to fading brakes.
Rounding out the podium places were newcomers Jono van Wyk/ Scott Howden (Ford Fiesta R2), who also suffered a massive bout of cane harvesting after missing a braking point at high speed.
Others who had adventures along the way included AC Potgieter/Mari van der Walt (Lake Umuzi VW Polo R2), who rolled heavily in Saturday’s first stage.
The crew was battered and bruised, with Van der Walt suffering mild concussion, while the car will need a new shell.
Chris Coertse/Greg Godrich (Electrothread Toyota Etios R2) had a huge off while lying second, and beached their car for 24 minutes, while George Smalberger/ Chris Brand retired their Shield VW Polo R2 with a blown engine.
Lee Rose/Elvéne Coetzee ended fourth overall and won the new Classic Rally class in their Ford Escort Mk.2.
The two-litre BDG-engined veteran Ford entertained the spectators along the route with wild power-slides on the wide, smooth and slippery roads.
Tjaart Conradie/Carolyn Swan brought their Silverton Engineering Toyota Etios R2 home in fifth place after a solid drive, some five minutes ahead of the sixth placed BMW 1 series of Trevor Graham/ Brian Clifton.
Ten of the 15 starters completed the route.