Rally of spectacle and drama
NARROW MARGIN: WINNERS BOTTERIL AND LYLE NOW SECOND ON CHAMPIONSHIP LADDER
Top local rally pitted the best against the best in exciting, close title chase.
The South African Rally Championship brigade visited the Carousel Casino in the area of Hammanskraal on Friday and Saturday, with the event hosting round three of this year’s national title chase.
The Rallystar Rally provided spectacle and drama, with the 2018 title leading team now enjoying a sparse one-point advantage over their nearest challengers.
The official rally winners were Guy Botteril and Simon Vacy Lyle in their Gazoo Toyota Etios, with the victory elevating them to the second place on the year’s championship points ladder.
They finished two minutes and 40 seconds ahead of AC Potgieter/Nico Swartz (Lake Umuzi Volkswagen Polo), with Chris Coertze/Greg Godrich (Electrothread Mazda 2) in third place, another minute and 26 seconds in arrears.
Second place was enough to leave Potgieter and Swartz in top position on the championship points ladder.
JJ Potgieter/Tommy du Toit (Verco Petroleum Ford Fiesta), Richard Leeke/Henry Kohne (ATS Ford Fiesta) and Tjaart Conradie/ Mari van der Walt (Silverton Engineering Toyota Etios) rounded out the top six places.
The quickest car around the route was the Toyota Auris S2000 of Theuns Joubert and Chris Brand, but the all-wheel drive vehicle could not score title points because it does not conform with official South African championship rally regulations.
Joubert and Brand clinched the Open Class victory, followed by Jose de Gouveia/Megan Verlaque (Toyota Corolla), Ian Rademeyer/Matt Kohler (VW Polo) and Madeleine Britz/Wendy Mitchell (Volkswagen Golf).
Regular circuit racers Hubi von Moltke and Stuart Grant (Volkswagen Golf Mk 1) won the Classic Car class from Etienne Malherbe and Raj Jutley (Datsun 160U SSS).
Notable retirements included those of top championship contenders Mathew Vacy Lyle/Rikus Fourie (Yato Tools Toyota Etios) with a blown engine, George Smalberger/Carolyn Swan, who rolled their Shield Volkswagen Polo), and Wilro Dippenaar/Riaan van der Westhuizen, whose Open Class Toyota Toyota Auris S2000 broke its steering rack.
The rally’s roads and organisation drew praise from competitors and 16 of the original 22 starters finished the event.
The next round of the 2018 championship will be held in Port Elizabeth on July 6 and 7.