Dakar hero Giniel wins Toyota 1000 Race

TOYOTA Gazoo Racing SA continued its dominance of the South African Cross Country Series (SACCS), when former Dakar winner Giniel de Villiers and his navigator Dennis Murphy won the Production Vehicle category at the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race on Sunday.

Just six seconds behind after three days of racing were their team-mates Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie in another FIA-spec Gazoo Hilux, while the final podium place went to brothers Johan and Werner Horn in their Class T Malalane Toyota Hilux.

The husband and wife team of Marius and Jolinda Fourie (PHB BAT) scored their first win in the Special Vehicles category, leading home the father/daughter combination of Coetzee and Sandra Labuscagne (4x4 Megaworld Porter). Third overall in this class went to multiple former Class P champions John Thomson and Maurice Zermatten, in a Zarco Magnum.

The next event on the SACCS calendar will break new ground for the championship. The Eeram Farmers 400 is a new event on the calendar and will be run near Harrismith, in the Free State, on July 28 and 29.