All bets on team Gazoo for win

TO BATTLE IT OUT FOR REMAINING TOP SPOTS BEHIND THE DOMINATING TOYOTA The public can join the fun at free public spectator points along the Nkomazi 450 race.

The weekend’s Nkomazi 450 race in Malelane, Mpumalanga, round five of the 2016 Donaldson Cross Country Championship, should provide an easy winner, plus much squabbling for the runner-up places.

After capturing the opening four races of the season overall, the Gazoo Toyota Hilux pairing of Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie will be clear favourites to win this time, too. Judging by the season thus far, they will probably be followed by their Toyota team-mates Anthony Taylor/Dennis Murphy in an identical Gazoo Hilux.

Behind the Toyota behemoth, a number of privateers will fight mightily for category championship places.

In Class T, the battle will rage between Jason Venter/Vince van Allemann (4x4 Mega World Toyota Hilux) and Chris Visser/ Ward Huxtable in their Neil Woolridge Ford Ranger. They will be chased by crews like Johan van Staden/ Mike Lawrenson (Red-Lined Nissan Navara), Christian du Plooy/ Henk Janse van Vuuren (RFS VW Amarok), Gary Bertholdt/Philip Herselman (Atlas Copco VW Amarok) and Luke Botha/Andre Vermeulen (Red-Lined Nissan Navara).

Others to watch include local heroes Johan/Werner Horn (Malelane Toyota Hilux), Hennie de Klerk/Adriaan Roets (Treasury One BMW X3) and Japie van Niekerk/Robin Houghton (Red-Lined Nissan Navara).

In Class S Otto Graven/Bobby Brewis (Graven Toyota Hilux) should take on Heine Strumpher/ Henri Hugo (4x4 Mega World Toyota Hilux), Jannie/Chris Visser (Neil Woolridge Ford Ranger), Ronald Graven/Lohan Faber (Graven Toyota Hilux) and Terence Marsh/Hlubi Mboya Arnold (Red-Lined Nissan Navara).

The Special Vehicle category should see the continuation of a season-long fight between Evan Hutchison/ Danie Stassen (Motorite BAT Viper) and Dave McShane/ Leander Pienaar (Fox Racing Porter).

Able to interfere with their struggle should be crews like Shameer Variawa/Zaheer Bodhanya (Cobalt Stryker), Coetzee/ Sandra Labuscagne (4x4 Mega World Porter), John Thomson/ Maurice Zermatten Zarco) and Nic Goslar/Andrew Massey (SA Clinics Zarco).

The event has a new partner on board with RCL FOODS joining Malelane Toyota in backing the race. Around 60% of the route runs on RCL FOODS property.

Race headquarters, the start/ finish and designated service park will all be located at the Riverview Preparatory School, with public entry to these areas free of charge.

There will also be free public entry to spectator points along the route, with spectator guides available at race headquarters and Malelane Toyota.

The qualifying race to determine grid positions will start on Friday at 11.30am, and the race on Saturday at 8.30am. – Off Road Correspondent

The event also has a new partner on board, with RCL FOODS joining Malelane Toyota in backing the race.