SA Rally revs up in Secunda
13 SPECIAL SPEED STAGES OVER 150KM IN AND AROUND THE TOWN
Secunda will host round three of the 2017 South African Rally championship this weekend, with competitors to tackle 13 special speed stages over 150km in and around the town.
Going to Mpumalanga, the season’s title chase is led by Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle in their Gazoo Toyota Etios R2. They must start as victory favourites, with their closest rivals Jono Van Wyk/ Scott Howden (Swazi Cowboy Ford Fiesta R2), AC Potgieter/Mari van der Walt (Lake Umuzi VW Polo R2) and Richard Leeke/Henry Kohne (ATS Ford Fiesta R2).
Others expected to challenge for podium places should include Chris Coertse/Greg Godrich (Electrothread Toyota Etios R2), Tjaart Conradie/Carolyn Swan (Silverton Engineering Toyota Etios) and George Smalberger/Chris Brand (Shield VW Polo R2).
A new class for 2017 is the Classic Car category, which has developed into a two-way fight between Lee Rose/ Elvéne Coetzee (Ford Escort Mk 2) and Roelof Coertse/Barry White (Mk 2 Escort). In Secunda they will be joined by several Northern Regions runners, including Natie Booysen/ AN Other (Ford Escort Mk 1), Ashley/ Les McKenzie (Ford Escort Mk 1), Nico Nienaber/Gert van Rensburg (Toyota Corolla Mk 2) and Etienne Malherbe/Matt Kohler (Datsun P710 SSS).
The Open class should see local farmer Kosie van der Merwe and Coen van Zyl (Subaru Impreza STi) challenge for the class win, challenged by Luné/Edward Strydom (Toyota Tazz).
The action will get under way at 3.30pm on Friday from the Trichardt Volkswagen dealer, taking crews to three gravel stages before returning for service at Lake Umuzi, plus a short tarmac stage at the Graceland Casino from 6pm. The cars will return to Lake Umuzi for their overnight break, and spectators will be treated to live entertainment when the racing action is over.
Saturday will kick off with a gravel super-special stage just outside town at 8.45am. Then rally crews will head to Tjorrie’s Farm where the service area and rally action will be from 10am until 1pm. It promises a family atmosphere with jumping castles to keep the kids entertained whilst there will be plenty of food and drinks available.
Stage seven is, at 28.3km, the longest of the event. It finishes in a quarry with a watersplash while the site offers fans a sweeping view from the top of the quarry rim. The final stage will on the banks of Lake Umuzi at 3pm in the centre of town and fans are invited to stay for the champagne ceremony and the after-party with live music.
A new dimension to this year’s edition of the Secunda rally will be a Win-a-Spin competition where the public stand a chance to win a ride in a rally car around the Lake Umuzi stage.
Details will published on the sarallying.co.za website and Facebook (sarallying).
The townsfolk of Secunda have rallied around to ensure the event remains a favourite on the calendar, contributing over R300 000 in cash and services towards the smooth running of the event.
The farmland roads have all been graded to ensure smooth, wide stages and the competition will be down to the best driver combination, rather than who builds the strongest car. –
For more information contact Jean Els on 082-339-6519 or Rikus Fourie on 084-673-8786. You can follow the rally live via Twitter –
YouTube – or Instagram – Facebook –