De Villiers, Murphy race to victory in Harrismith 400
Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy took their Gazoo Toyota Hilux to overall victory in the weekend’s Harrismith 400, round four of the 2017 SA Cross Country Series.
They were followed over the finish line by the two Puma Lubricants Ford Rangers of Gareth Woolridge/Boyd Dreyer and Lance Woolridge/Ward Huxtable, plus Johan/ Werner Horn (Malalane Toyota Hilux) and Chris Visser/ Philip Herselman (Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux).
Luke Botha/ Andre Vermeulen (Red-Lined Nissan Navara) finished sixth, leading home Johan van Staden/ Juan Mohr (Elf Renault Duster) and Henk Lategan/ Barry White (Puma Lubricants Ford Ranger).
Pre-race favourites and championship leaders Leeroy Poulter/ Rob Howie (Gazoo Toyota Hilux), were forced to retire with a broken gearbox.
Reigning SA title holders Evan Hutchison and Danie Stassen regained the year’s Special Vehicle championship lead by winning the category in their King Price Extreme BAT Viper.
They finished five minutes ahead of Stefan van Pletzen/ Jaco Pieterse (Live Lesotho Chenowth).
Next over the line were Coetzee/ Sandra Labuscagne (4x4 Mega World Porter), Marius Fourie/ Hendrik Pienaar (PHB BAT), John Telford/ Victor Ntsekhe (Calcamite Hellcat), Keith Makenete/ Ferdie Pieterse (BAT) and John Thomson/ Maurice Zermatten (Zarco). The final classified finishers were Werner Kennedy/ Thinus Venter (Live Lesotho Aceco) and Nic Goslar/Andrew Massey (SA Clinics Zarco Magnum).
The next round of the championship is the Sun City 400 on September 15 and 16.