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 DAVE'S CORNER
RALLY 2008
by: Dave Ledbitter | | Our thoughts are with Jeanne Venter, MSA's off road co-ordinatoor, who is in intensive care after undergoing a major operation...
It was good to see Schalk van Heerden out and about on the TMCC Rally. He underwent another successful operation last Tuesday to straighten his left foot...
SWMC Blue Crane Rally: The Western Cape Regional event regs and entry form are available...
Another word out there is that a Chev Aveo will make its debut in the Northern Regions series next year:-)
Word going around is that MSA is to hold an enquiry into Hergen Fekken's VW Rally result, and he could yet be excluded. This would mean the loss of 17 points as well as a current worst score of 21, leaving Fekken tied with Jan Habig on 96 and a two rally shoot out...
Leon van Zyl is said to have his hands on the ex-Dario dos Santos Subaru Impreza Sportwagon, which he intends to rally next year...
Nicholas Ryan and Geoff Tyrer will tackle the Leesol Rally this weekend in the S2000 Philips Shavers/Jonnesway Toyota RunX...
TMCC Leesol Rally: everything has been added...
Is this where Etienne Lourens' S2000 Ford Fiesta will come from - one of the 10 kits required for homologation?
This homologation enables the car to be entered in all domestic championships in the Asia-Pacific region for which the FIA Super 2000 – Rallies category is eligible as well as the Asia Pacific Rally Championship which includes events in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, New Caledonia, Indonesia, Malaysia and China. In addition, the car is also eligible to compete in Rally Japan and the Repco Rally Australia and Rally New Zealand events which form part of the FIA World Rally Championship.
The car was designed and built by Britek Motorsport on behalf of Ford Australia. Up until this point, the Fiesta S2000R has been campaigned in the Australian Rally Championship (ARC) under Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) recognition and is now eligible for the ARC by virtue of its FIA homologation.
Britek's Marcus Clarke (L) with the FIA's Jacques Berger.The car’s recent approval has been achieved through the representations of CAMS. It is currently the only Australian competition vehicle which has an FIA homologation.
“Britek is delighted to have the Fiesta S2000R homologated for competition in the Asia Pacific region,” said Britek Motorsport Manager Marcus Clarke.
“Along with CAMS we first presented the two rally Fiestas, plus a complete kit of parts, to President of the FIA Technical Commission Jacques Berger and Director General of the FIA Manufacturers Commission Gabriel Cadringher in November.
“This is great news from a Britek point of view, but also for Australian motor sport. CAMS have provided outstanding support during the entire process and along with Ford Australia have certainly embraced what we wanted to achieve.
“The goal now is to get people in the Fiesta S2000R and onto the podium!”
As well as safety and performance, the FIA sets stringent guidelines in vehicle eligibility and documentation which have been met. CAMS FIA Delegate Garry Connelly explained where the Fiesta S2000R can be campaigned.
“The car is able to compete in any rally for which FIA Super 2000 and Group N rally cars are eligible in the Asia Pacific region,” said Connelly.
“Whilst the homologation is initially for the Asia Pacific region, when a quantity of 10 ‘build kits’ can be completed FIA worldwide homologation may be applied for. It would be great a feat for a manufacturer in Australia to achieve this, particularly as Super 2000 will soon be a base of the FIA’s new World Rally Car regulations.
“CAMS have undertaken a significant amount of work with the Ford team and the FIA to achieve this outcome and are pleased that the Fiesta homologation is now in place. We look forward to the next Australian Super 2000 homologation which should be completed in the near future.”
In case you missed it, and I did, Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries are the 2008 class champions for drivers and co-drivers respectively...
Sasol Rally Championship points have been updated after the Osram Rally...
Better late than never: appreciative thanks to Derrick Dearlove and Subaru Southern Africa for the loan of his Forester XT on day two of the Osram Rally after picking up Korean issues with my hire car. It saved the day...
OSRAM RALLY TV TIMES: The full broadcast schedule is on "TV Schedules"...
Andy Haigh Smith is looking for a navigator for the last two rounds of the Sasol SA Rally CHampionship. Call Andy on 0825521231
Osram Rally: The gallery has been posted. Day 1 results file is called "FinalResults2"...
Guillaume Jordaan is returning to rallying with his 1600cc Ford Escort Mk 2...
Hypersure Insurance Brokers Hluhluwe Rally: Supplementary regs and entry form for this brand new KZN event are available. Early entants stand a chance to win FREE accommodation...
OSRAM RALLY: Weather forecast, revised GPS co-ordinates, map and itinerary are available...
National championship points have been updated...
Sasol Natianl Championship and Northern Regions championship points have been uploaded...
Sakkie Bosman has been injured in a road accident, destroying his wife's Volvo. Some a...e went to sleep in his car in the fast lane just past the Winelands Engen 1Stop towards Cape Town. Sakkie tried to miss him, lost control and went over the middle island through the oncoming traffic & rolled into a ditch on the other side. All airbags popped & luckily he only damaged a shoulder blade & some pelvis injury. He is out for the next 2 months. GET WELL SOON, SAKKIE.
Northern Regions seedings have been updated after the HMC.
Eddie Simpson and Marco Lottering retired from the Hencom Rally with a broken ball joint just 2km into the first stage. Time for a new car, me thinks...
Word is that one S2000 Castrol Toyota Auris will finally debut on the Osram Rally...
Andre Vermeulen will navigate for Nicholas Ryan for the balance of the 2008 Sasol Rally Championship season...
Hencom Auto Body HMC Rally: The entry list and start list have been added...
TMCC Leesol Rally: Supplementary regs and entry form are available for the 7th round of the Northern Regions Rally Championship...
Hierdie gaan oor die getroue tydren-entusias wat altyd die pa-van in Kaapse tydrenne bestuur het, Andre Groenewald. He is a Lecturer at Northlink College, where we started and finished the Toyota Dealer Rally a few years ago.
Die kanker is weer terug en ten spyte van nou al 2 jaar veg, word daar nou dringend ernstiger hulp,ondersteuning en gebed benodig., nie dat daar nog nooit of ooit opgehou bid is nie!
Verpsrei maar so veel as julle kan, hy is n “great” mens en groot entusias van tydrenne, asook n groot bewonderaar van elke deelnemer en organiseerder!! Baie dankie! Gerhard Kriel
Schalk Van Heerden is home and resting, still in good spirits. He is not allowed to walk for 8 weeks, even with crutches. Thereafter, an intense period of pysiotheraphy will follow, to teach his muscles how to walk again. The Hans safety device came in for a lot of praise. "There is no two ways about it, it saved both our lives", said Schalk. "I don't care if you are in S2000 or A5, if you hit a rock like we did, 160km/h is still ". A sobering thought and one the rally fraternity should take heed of. Unlike a race track with help every few hundred metres, the side of a mountain can be a very lonely place. I saw photos of the car, and it leaves me cold...
Schalk would like to express his thanks to VW Rally Clerk of the Course Joe Fourie, for making his extended stay in PE as comfortable as possible...
Nico Higgs has withdrawn from the balance of the 2008 Sasol SA Rally CHampionship season. Having started off well, he slipped in the class standings and is said to be building a new car for 2009, which may well test on the last round in October if all goes well. 'Tis said to be an Auris...
Spotti Woodhead replies: "For regionals my memory is a bit dim having last driven them in 87. In nationals Elbie Odendaal and Christo Kuun won the first four events in 72 for Datsun after taking the SA championship in 71 in an Alfa Giulia. These were Elbies first wins. Neels Vermaak and I were the chasing Alfa crew but our best two were seconds in the Moonlight to Jan Hettema Willem van Heerden in the Escort and the Total to Elbie and Christo. With five wins in the first six events Elbie and Christo couldnt be caught . We rolled out of the Protea and didnt finish in the Lucky Strike in a borrowed car but nobody else caught us for second. But as they say “Who remembers who came second”.Spotti"
HMC Hencom Auto Body Rally: The itinerary has been added...
PMC Imperial Toyota Rally: A final entry list (EntryList2) and directions to the start (FinalInstructions2) are available...
WBMK Killarney All Tar: Entry list, itinerary, preview and map available...
Joe Fourie, Clerk of the Course of the Volkswagen Rally was duly instructed by MSA to withdraw the results of the VW Rally GCR 276 and rectify the administrative errors in these. The administrative errors have now been corrected and at 21h00 today 16/07/2008 the Provisional Final Classification was re-publicized. These changes will affect Class A6 car 41 and car 40 and reinstate car 113 in class N2. These Provisional Final Classification results will become final in 14 days on 30/07/2008 at 21h00 when MSA stewards will sign and approve this Final Official Classification.. Awards will then be re-distributed, refer-GCR281 vii. "Finalresults2" is the filename of the latest set of semi provisional almost final results...
Naturally I have an opinion about this, and whilst stressing I'm NOT taking sides, I believe the Wilken TEAM was wrong but it is part of the greater learning curve. Navigators should wait for provisional results and check them before it is too late. I remember Gugu Zulu lost a class win on the Subaru Rally for the same reason. MSA should only review/amend/re-issue results if NEW information comes to light that wasn't available at the time, (for example Serge's 'route misdemeanor' appearing on TV News on Sunday evening) after the results were finalised. This precedent will haunt rallying going forward. It is said that there will be an appeal, so this matter is far from over. May the best lawyer win...
HENCOM AUTO BODY HMC RALLY: Supplementary regs, entry form, a list of accommodation, maps to the start and stage maps are available...
Schalk update: Four days without a cigarette...moved to a general ward and should be sent home this coming weekend...still in a lot of pain, but in good spirits...
PMC Imperial Toyota Rally: An amended Final Instructions has been added .The spectator guide, entry list, itinerary and final instructions are available...
Schalk van Heerden is doing well in the high care section of a PE hospital and dying for a cigarette! He should be moved into a normal ward tomorrow (Mon). The doctors are happy with the operation and x-rays tomorrow will reveal if all went well. meanwhile, Nicholas Ryan will be under pressure to re-fettle his Philips RunX in time for the Osram Rally...
OSRAM RALLY 2008: The supplementary regs, a list of accommodation and the entry form are available...
Northern Regions championship/SAHRA points have been updated...
The national seedings have been updated...
Mohammed Moosa's Toyota Auris will not make it in time for the VW Rally - a few vital components are still being sorted out...
Neither Andy nor Ashley Haigh Smith will be on the Volkswagen Rally - they will be in Bali for a family wedding...
The WBMK Killarney All Tar Rally regs and entry form are available...
Thanks to the efforts of some good samaratins, not least of which is Leon Van Zyl, Morne van Bosch has entered the PMC IMperial Toyota Rally...
The Peskin’s were blessed with a baby boy (Conner - 2.61kg) last night at 20:00. It was thought Carl was not going to make the VW Rally due to the little one stalling on the start line (or should that be flying finish?) but fortunately baby Connor seems to be a motor racing enthusiast and decided to come this week so Daddy can go and play...
The latest Northern Regions seedings have been added...
PMC Rally secretary Mauveen Martin has had a problem with her fax number as published in the regs. Some entries MAY not have been received, so if you entred in the past few days, please re-send your entry - just in case. An alternative fax number is 086 663 2337
An interesting response to Morne van Bosch's withdrawl announcement was received: "We as a rally family cannot see that a fearless rally driver such as Morne stop rallying due to something that we can help him with. As a rooky driver myself,I want to ask the rally community to help Morne financially to live his dream as we do. I’m rallying for my second year now and all I can say is thanx a million to all you petrolkoppe out there. You guys are the best thing that happened to me in my entire life. Morne, I don’t know you by person but I know how it feels to be in a position where friends are few when the days are dark. I want to make a contribution of R2000- to Morne to keep him rallying. I dare anybody to do the same for a fellow member. Morne, you can call me on 0786340588 or at crazycop@vodamail.co.za "
Morne van Bosch has been forced to withdraw from the regional championship for financial reasons...
SAM Prisma Comms 100 Rally: A new itinerary (Thurs 19th) has been added and the older one deleted. All maps and other info to enjoy the spectacle is now available. Oh, and there's a 30% chance of rain. The weather forecast is up as well...
PMC IMPERIAL TOYOTA RALLY: The supplementary regs and entry form are available for the re-scheduled 5th round of the Northern Regions Rally Championship...
SASOL Racing has launched an exciting new competition with some great prizes up for grabs after each national rally! The first prize is a Rallystar Motorsport Academy self-drive course in a Subaru rally car! This two-hour introduction course into the world of rallying is all done under the watchful eyes of the Rallystar instructors. The second prize is an advanced driving course by Mercedes Benz Dynamic Driving. The third prize is some great SASOL merchandise.
All you need to do to stand a chance of winning one of these fabulous prizes is to correctly answer two questions and complete the entry form. The winners will be announced after each of the national rally events.
Who were the winners of the Production Car class at the Toyota Dealer Rally Cape, the second event of the SASOL Rally Championship?
Who is the main sponsor of the South African National Rally Championship?
While you do intensive Google research to find the answers to these extremely tough questions, go to www.sasolracing.co.za to enter. Good luck!
John Peiser and Brian Hoskins won the CPMCC Automark Rally in the Western Cape last weekend while I was slumming in the Kruger Park (where I twice bumped into Hennie Lourens). Final results and a review are available...
A memorial service to pay tribute to Ove Andersson will be held at the Toyota Academy auditorium, Toyota Head Office, Sandton, at 11:00 on Saturday, June 21. Any member who would like to recall some memories of Ove at the function must please contact Roger Houghton on houghtonr@mwebbiz.co.za or cell 082-371-9097.
Please read the release “Proposal for KZN Rally” under “News”. KZN regional competitor Rob Clarke is planning a rally in the Hluhluwe area of Northern KZN on 27 September. Rob needs an indication regarding the level of interest from Northern Regions competitors to assess the viability of this event. Contact: Tel: 035 5621020; Fax: 035 5621032; Cell: 084 555 9887
Werner Koekemoer's BMW 130i will sadly not be ready for the Prisma Comms 100 Rally. The car is being built to full class A7 specification and subject to the various permissions required, may make it's national debut on the Swartland Rally in September - fitted with a two litre motor of course. For regionals, and it is expected to be ready for the postponed PMC event in July, the car will feature a 3 litre six cylinder motor straight from the production car racers...
On the same theme, it is said that two BMW 120is are being evaluated for rally purposes deep in Mpumulanga. Think - where, or on whose cars have you seen a BMW dealer's name:-))
Anton Wannenburg has registered the website www.deathpenalty.co.za - it's time civilized society makes a firmer stand...
The CPMCC Automark Rally updated entry list (entrylist2), itinerary, start venue map and preview are available...
Rocky Reyneke will re-enter the Northern regions series starting with the SAM Prisma Comms 100 Rally. The Hencom Subaru driver is looking for a navigator...
The 25th Volkswagen Rally supplementary regs and entry form are available. There is a competitor's medical form as well, called "Entry Form2". The format for this year will remain similar to last year: Day 1 with 5 tar stages totalling 22km and 2 gravel stages totalling 54 km's , Day 2 with 5 gravel stages totalling 136km's and the final tar 1km.
All the forest stages are new due to the fact that the main entrance into the Longmore forest is closed for re- construction and therefore we loose the great Culturama stage to the spectators and service crews which also affects part of the magnificient PPC stage. We have taken great care to select replacement stages surrounding and crossing these main routes which used to be the backbone of the VW rally for many years. The new stages are good but narrower than usual with a lot of switchback and hairpins and minor washaways here and there and will defenitely be a serious challenge should it rain as these roads are mainly clay based and very slippery when wet.
The SAM Prisma Comms 100 Rally, round four of the Northern Regions Rally Championship, will run in the Rayton/Cullinan area east of Pretoria. The event has five stages of which three are repeated bringing the total to eight. The day kicks off with a day long Rally Festival at the start venue at De Haven Oost (entrance R10). More info soon...
The latest National and Northern Regions points have been updated...
The Total Rally will be broadcast as follows:
Saturday 7 June 20:30 to 21:30 CSN / SS 2
Sunday 8 June 04:00 to 05:00 SS 2
07:00 to 08:00 SS 5
Monday 9 June 18:00 to 19:00 SS 2
Friday 13 June 00:30 to 01:30 SS 5
13:00 to 14:00 SS 7
The Osram Rally is going back to the mountains as a two day event, headquartered in Barkly East. CoC Fred Vroomen is expected to formally announce the change in venue in the next week or so...
There is a lot of truth in the rumour that the Rally Chicks, Lola and Megan Verlaque will be running a S2000 Toyota, sooner rather than later. people close to the situation say as soon as the VW Rally in July...
The "Spirit of Rallying Award" must go to Murray Lloyd and Ralph Lehmann who retired their MLC Computer Solutions Subaru GT halfway around stage 1. Undaunted, the team went home to Jo'burg, prepped, tested and loaded their class S20 MLC Golf and headed back to Ermelo, arriving at 3am. They started day 2, retired, and re-entered the Total Challenge on Saturday. Now THAT'S dedication...
Total International Rally: The scrutineering times, bulletin 1, itinerary, entry list, preview and all the maps are available. Pay attention with the maps: map 1 is an overview, map 2 is a layout of all three service parks, then the individual stage maps follow. Stages 1,2,3 and 10 are repeated. There are twelve different maps, all under 100kb in size.
CPMCC Automark Rally: Regs and entry form available...
CTH TRansport KZN Rallysprint: Regs and entry form available...
Jaco Liebenberg's funeral will be held on Tuesday 27 May 2008 at the AGS Church in Sunnyridge, 25 Olympia street at 10h30 and he will be buried at Primrose cemetry.
The Subaru Owners Club of South Africa and numerous individuals and other organisations have expressed a wish to financially help Janca Liebenberg. Anyone wishing to help, (this is not coming from the family but the rally fraternity), her banking details are: Janca Liebenberg, ABSA, branch code 63200500, account number 9086487302...
Jaco and Janca Liebenberg's baby boy was born at 09h20 this morning (Mon, 19 May), weighing 3.1kg. Mom and baby are doing fine...
The rally fraternity has been rocked for the second time in as many weeks with the death last night (Saturday, 17 May) of Jaco Liebenberg in a fatal car accident on the N12 near the Atlas Road turnoff. Jaco and good friend Schalk van Heerden won the Northern Regions S2 class in 2006. To his wife Janca, expecting their first child on Monday 19th, words fail to console. The many friends he made in the sport are devastated. One of the most abiding memories I have of Jaco is from the inaugeral SAM Rust de Winter Rally last year. Upon seeing me at the end of a long straight, he hit the gas and flew over my yump to create the highest flying car I ever photographed...
Armand du Toit is looking for a drive now that Salie du Toit has stopped. Armand can be contacted on 0795078090
Kosta Koumantarakis has become part of Team Total and will compete in class A6 in the ex-Salie du Toit car...
It is difficult to focus on the job at hand, the Bathroom Bizarre Tzaneen Rally especially as it is in the area where the PAE team is based. Notwithstanding, the entry list, start and stage maps, service guide (loaded as Spectator1),itinerary and preview are available...
The latest National points tables have been added...
The Western Cape Ceres Toyota Rally entry list and preview are available...
Northern Regions co-driver George Cronje was killed in a car accident in the early hours on Saturday morning, returning from Jo'burg to Polokwane. He hit a truck making an illegal U-turn across the N1. Cronje navigated for Andre Ehlers and tops the class S1 co-driver's points log after two class wins this season. We extend our deepest sympathies to George's family , friends and the PAE Rally Team...
Meanwhile, Andre Ehlers has advised that he will immediately stop competing for the remainder of the year...
If you missed the Sasol Rally broadcast on SuperSport, fear not. It will be repeated as follows:
Saturday 10 May 19:00 - 20:00 SS7
Sunday 11 May 08:00 - 09:00 SS6 ; 23:00 - 00:00 SS6
Wednesday 14 May 23:00 - 00:00 SS5 / SS5A
Friday 16 May 10:00 – 11:00 SS6
Sunday 18 May 08:45 - 09:45 SS5/5A
Tuesday 20 May 19:00 - 20:00 SS5 / SS5A
A rather dismal 28 entries have been received for next weekends Bathroom
Bizarre rally in Tzaneen so as to increase the enries, any crew NOT YET
ENTERED CAN book FREE accommodation with Greg Godrich..
His lodge is 50km North of Polokwane and 80km's from Tzaneen (45 minutes)
It is obviously self catering and only a couple of Chalets are available.
This is only for actual crews and not Spectators, uncles and aunts etc...
You can contact him on 0793009437
The Sasol final results, including stage times for those not completing the route, have been added...
Sasol Rally 2008: Everything you need to enjoy the rally is available: detailed stage maps, the spectator guide. Travel safely - see you in Sabie...or Nelspruit...or White River...
The Sasol Rally will be observed by the FIA for possible inclusion in the 2009 African Rally Championship...Please don't litter or light fires, keep the kids away from the pavements in the town stages and obey the marshals - they are trying to keep YOU and the competitors safe...
A strong rumour suggests the Sasol Rally will be Salie du Toit's last rally - the talented youngster stopping due to business pressures...
The Bathroom Bizarre Tzaneen Rally will have a new format - three stages, all repeated with central servicing. This cuts 63km an an hour off the route. As a result, the rally will start at 10am and finish 'well before dark'...
Barry White has landed a job at Toyota Motorsport and will no longer be able to navigate for Kosta Koumantarakis...
Sasol Rally 2008: The entry list has been added. The top 10 cars are in starting order as per the latest seeding list (but subject to the stewards agreement). The rest of the 66-car entry is in number order and NOT starting order...
The PMC Imperial Toyota Regional Rally has been re-scheduled for 19 July...
There is a fascinating insight into the future of the WRC from 2010 and beyond - see story under 'news'...
Former SA rally driver, Marius Swart, now resident in Australia, has bought the championship-winning S2000 Volkswagen Polo to campaign in the Australian National Rally Championship. Swart will be remembered for his exploits in a class N2 Honda Civic and S5 Subaru Impreza. I remember him trying to take me out on the 2002 or '03 SAHRA Rally with his Subaru, demolishing the barbed wire fence 'protecting' me and as the first driver to take me for a drive in a rally car...
Corrected national rally points have been uploaded...
Bathroom Bizarre Tzaneen Rally: The supplementary regs, entry form and an instruction regarding environmental mats have been added...
National seedings after the Toyota Cape Rally have been added...
Chase Attwell is not having a good year - he trashed his new RunX at RallyStar yesterday (Wed) - the second car to be destroyed this year by the young Zimbabwean...
Lola and Megan Verlaque have sold their Subaru Impreza N10 into Uganda and will complete the season in a rented Mitsubishi Evo 9...
Jon Williams and Pierre Arries intend to compete in the remaining rounds of the African Rally Championship, chasing the Pirelli prize of a few free WRC events. The pair will use the Williams Racing regional S2000 Polo...
National and Northern Regions points have been updated...
Hein Lategan has bought Nicholas Ryan's Subaru Impreza N12B and will complete the season in his Steve's Auto Clinic-backed machine...
SASOL RALLY: The big one! Supplementary regs and entry form are available...
Hein Lategan is selling his N4 VW Golf TDi 4Motion. Said to be fed up with the lack of interest in homologating the car, it would make an awesome car for regionals. Hein will still rally (in class N4). All will be revealed in a day or two...
THE IMPERIAL TOYOTA PMC RALLY HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. The organisers have been unable to plot the route due to excessive rains in the Bronkhorstspruit area...
Final results were up minutes after they became offical - a giant gallery is up as well - only took 1650 photos this weekend...
We regret to advise that John Ogden's wife Sue passed away last night. Both John and Sue have been have been institutions on rallies, National, Regional and SAHRA. John and Sue were involved in organizing many rallies for as long as we can remember. Our thoughts are with John and his family and friends. SueÂ’s smiles will be sorely missed at rallies!
Latest national seedings (after Tour Natal) are available...
TOYOTA DEALER RALLY: Everything you need to enjoy the event is available...
The Rally Commission has deferred the introduction of 98-octane unleaded fuel: "For various reasons and following numerous requests the Rally Commission has no option but to postpone the implementation of the new fuel regulation. A Bulletin to follow."
Imperial Toyota PMC regional rally: Regs and entry form are available...
Chase Attwell, the young Zimbabwean who destroyed his Toyota RunX on the Tour Natal Rally, has bought Mohammed Moosa's RunX and will compete on the Toyota Dealer Rally. Support comes from BNS and Jonnesway. Attwell is urgently looking for a navigator with route note experience. Contact Steve on +26311207425...
Dave Lewkowicz will navigate for the Fernando Rueda for the rest of the year, starting with the Toyota Dealer Rally next weekend...
I have been under the wrong impression regarding Paul Pfeiffer's exclusion from the Hitachi Tour. His infringement was in fact for working on the car in a control at the end of SS 8. The protest regarding his non-homologated shockabsorbers was turned down as it was submitted late, and the CoC had in fact given a dispensation...
Duncan English has bought the ex-Michael Houghton N3 Toyota RunX from Toyota Motorsport and plans to contest the Western Cape regional and national series. he is urgently looking for the services of a competent co-driver. Call +27 (0)82 889-1279 or mail duncan@timco.co.za
This new development leaves Adrian Karth with a dilemma; the A7 NetConnect VW Polo is navigatorless. Capable co-drivers can call Adrian on 082-553-9471...
National points have been added (thanks Danie S)...
Hitachi Tour Natal TV Times: Note saturday is SS1:
Thursday, March 20, 2008 00:00 - 01:00 SS5 SA National Rally Champs H\L Rally 1 - Nmcc, Kwazulu-Natal
Friday, March 21, 2008 04:55 - 05:55 SS5 SA National Rally Champs H\L Rally 1 - Nmcc, Kwazulu-Natal
Corrected Northern Regions points have been added...
Hannes de Beer will navigate for Vusi Mabanga for the balance of the year...
Gert van Rensburg and Fernando Rueda have, by mutual agreement, decided not to continue together this year...
ABC MOTORS CARLETONVILLE RALLY: The map of stage locations, entry list, final instructions and itinerary are available...
The HITACHI TOUR NATAL RALLY gallery has been added...
Toyota Dealer Rally (Cape): Supplementary regs and entry form are available...
Nicholas Ryan's new S2000 Philips/Jonnesway Toyota RunX broke cover the weekend before the Tour Natal. Exclusive photos are available - look under Scoop on the left hand pane...
Hitachi Tour Natal Rally: The scrutineering times, spectator guide and decent maps have been added...
The Northern Regions seedings have been added after the Subaru Bruma Belfast Rally...
Etienne Lourens' Ford Fiesta will not run in Team Total colours this year, but as Ford Racing. The veteran Total supported driver has not severed his relationship with the French fuel giant - it will resume next year with the anticipated S2000 Fiesta.
Andre Vermeulen has been appointed as manager for Team Total this year and will not be navigating for Lourens. Arno la Grange is the likely replacement in the N3 Fiesta...
Hitachi Tour Natal: The entry list, itinerary, preview and spectator maps for day 1 and 2 are available...
The latest NATIONAL SEEDINGS have been added...
MSA RALLY CIRCULAR #1 IS POSTED: Look on the left hand pane under special sa events. This is unfortunately the only way I am able to maintain the formatting of tables...
Gavin Stapleton passed away at 11h30 today after a short illness. Many of you may not have known Gavin, but he was an accomplished photographer: anything - motorsport, rugby, nature - his images rivalled those of the late Colin Watling and Danie van Jaarsveld. He also ran Camera Press, an excellent printing business in downtown Johannesburg with his brother David - the business printed much of the motoring industry's brochures. R.I.P Friend.
David and Margaret Brown who are well known in the Northern Regions and national rally scene have received a Chamber of Business award for helping and being involved in rallying: Outstanding Community Service: David and Margaret Brown. They have been involved in helping with the SPCA, the Bathroom Bazarre Rally, supporting the Abraham Kriel ChildrenÂ’s home, being on the Rural Safety Committee and helping at Agri Letaba. It is MargaretÂ’s voice that you will often hear when phoning the crisis centre for help.
Hannes Visser of L'at Wiel fame has been awarded the contract to produce the 2008 TV coverage. Supersport will show all 8 rounds as well as a season wrap, with Supersport updates also featuring rally results...
Carolyn Swan will navigate for Rodney Visagie this year...
SCC East Rand ABC Motors Rally: Revised regs with the correct fax number have been added...
The Belfast gallery is up and running - leaving enough time to go and see Celine Dion live...
Japie van Niekerk won a thrilling Subaru Bruma Belfast Rally by 2 seconds from Schalk Burger Sr. Final results are available. Many thanks to Margret and David Brown, Tony Crowder and Willie du Plessis for showing me where to be and for results...
FORD IS BACK IN RALLYING. The story goes like this: a very good source says Etienne Lourens and Andre Vermeulen will drive a class N3 Ford Fiesta this season, pending sorting out the S2000 Fiesta homologation issues for 2009. A few SMSs later, a person closely connected to the team called demanding to know the source and that Ford was asking questions. That was nonsense of course. It was said that Ford will issue a formal announcement on Monday (18 Feb) and the question to ask is “how many Fords will be in Natal”. There are two Fiestas in SA, the ex-Barbosa machine and Martin Steyn’s S4 regional car. Martin Steyn works for Ford. What announcement will Ford make on Monday? “Hi all, we’re not rallying as rumoured”. Hardly. Bets? Etienne Lourens and Martin Steyn in Ford Fiestas (N3). If Ford is to make a formal announcement, it does imply a ‘factory’ presence, although it could still be Dealer Council funded – the Dealer body is said to have a ‘substantial’ marketing war chest. Whatever happens on Monday, it would be good for the sport to have another manufacturer involved, and of course, Ford has a long, rich history in SA rallying…stay tuned!
More on the Ford story: The S2000 Fiesta will be the new car due to be launched around August, and readied for 2009 by M-Sport. There could be up to five N3 Fiestas rallying by year's end.
Tony Barbosa's A5 Ford Ka is said to be the third Ford in Natal next month...
Werner Koekemoer is building a BMW 1 series, which ultimately, will become an S2000 car...
Nico Higgs and Menno Havelaar will run a full national series in a brand new class A7 Toyota RunX, with Toyota prepared engine and gearbox...
Hennie Lourens is to build a class A7 spec VW Polo to replace his aging VW Golf...
Joos and Danie Stassen are palnning to run a full national season in their newly built Subaru Impreza N12...
Gerhard Snyman is joining Visser du Plessis in the new N14 Pirtek/Kreepy Krauly Subaru Impreza. Gert van Rensburg is said to be joining Fernando Rueda in the Team Total Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9...
The countdown to the 2008 Sasol SA Rally Championship has begun: Hitachi Tour Natal regs and entry form are available...
Subaru Bruma Belfast Rally: The spectator guide, maps, itinerary, entry list are available...
Too many people out of the workshop for too long means Mark Cronje and Robert Paisley will also be in Belfast and not the Cape...
Dave Compton and Paul Leslie will fill the seats of the class A5 Sasol Toyota Yaris this season ( I hate being 'scooped' by a magazine but was sworn to secrecy!)and will be in action this weekend in Belfast...
The Gree Aircondioners Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 due to make its appearance in the hands of Rodney Marillier/Greg Godrich on the Subaru Bruma Belfast Rally this weekend developed an accelerator problem and won't make it. Godrich is to navigate in one-off appearance with Mohammed Moosa...
Lola and Megan Verlaque started the final day of Rally Tanzania in 6th place overall, 1;30 behind 5th placed Jamie Whyte. A concerted effort and hard drive saw the Rally Chicks end 3rd overall behind winners Muna Singh/David Sihoka and 2nd placed Ugandan Jas Mangat...
Mohammed Moosa has bought Schalk Burger Jr's A6 Toyota Corolla and will run it on the Subaru Bruma Belfast Rally as a shakedown ahead of the Tour Natal Rally. The class A6 Auris will sadly not be ready in time. The Tzaneen businessman also needs the services of an experienced navigator for the 2008 season. Call 083-441-7625...
Now, what is Schalk Burger Jr going to drive:-)
Japie van Niekerk has confirmed that he and Robin Houghton will debut their S2000 Toyota RunX (the ex-Serge car) on the Belfast Rally after all...
SCC EAST RAND ABC MOTORS CARLETONVILLE RALLY: Supplementary Regs, entry form and map to the start are available. Click on the link above...
Christoff Snyders (S2 Limestone VW Golf) will test sibling affection as he is to be navigated by his sister Celeste this season...
NMCC Sprint - 9 Feb: Supplementary regs and entry form are available...
If you have entered the Subaru Bruma Belfast Rally, please check with Sharon Adendorf (076-732-5599) to see if she has received your fax/email - it's called Eishkom, and she has to date (Sun, 3 Feb) only 6 entries...
Werner Koekemoer has entered the Belfast Rally with his ex-Topcar BMW - at last! Dries vd Walt reads the maps and notes...
Kurt Wesson is said to be interested in buying Michael Otto's S3 Toyota Tazz...
Eric de Jager, a Polokwane newspaper journo, will make his debut on the Belfast Rally in a VW Golf (not sure what class). Robbie Coetzee is the nav...
Schalk Burger Jr has been shopping overseas again, and I don't think it was for scale model rally cars. He won't say what his SBinvest livery will adorn on the regional scene, but says he is running his Corolla in class A6 again, but with a sequential gearbox. No navigator lined up yet...
Gert van Rensburg will navigate for Callie van der Merwe on the Subaru Bruma Belfast Rally...
Sadly, neither Japie van Niekerk nor Mark Cronje will be on the Belfast, both opting for the Bredasdorp Rally on the same day. Doesn't say much about the usefulness of the Northern Regions series, does it?
The new occupants of the two-car Sasol Rally Team will be out on the Belfast Rally...
Michael Otto will do a shakedown on the Belfast Rally ahead of the national series, which he will undertake with Sifiso mahlangu in the left-hand seat...
Steve Mearns and Ciaran Nunan are to compete in the full Sasol SA National Rally Championship with the A5 MPC Toyota Tazz, suitably equipped with fuel injection...
Tjaart Conradie will continue in class A5 with Techwood support...
Chad Lambert, the 2007 Northern Regions Rally Champion, has failed to secure a budget to compete in the national series, and will return to defend his title in his Toyota Tazz with Henry Dearlove Doesn't say a lot about the Northern Regions series, does it? How about the NR sub-committee getting together with a major manufacturer and/or sponsor to offer a drive in the national series for the champion...
The Williams Rally Team (that's Doug, Jon and Shane), has bought the A5 ex Gugu CitiGolf for Shane...
Marshal Louis Wiid will trade in his flags for the navigator's seat in Morne van Bosch's class S2 Opel Kadett...
Speaking of marshals, rallying is in desperate need of marshals. Without these selfless people, rallying would not exist - it's as simple as that. Many people want to become involved but feel the expense is too high - marshaling is a great way to become involved in this most spectacular of motorsports. Call Jeanne Venter at Motorsport SA for more info: 011-466-2440
Llewellyn Fourie has teamed up with Stevan Wilken in the class A6 Pannar Seeds VW Polo which has received unspecified modifications ahead of the season opener in early March...
Nico and Gert Nienaber will contest the 2008 Sasol SA Rally Championship in the ex Lourens/Nathan Toyota Corolla, running in class A6...
Lola and Megan Verlaque will contest Rally Tanzania, round 1 of the African Rally Championship in a borrowed Subaru Impreza...
The date clash between the Toyota Dealer Rally Western Cape and a full Wesbank race meeting at Killarney the same weekend (!)may result in the rally moving forward one week...
The teams for the 2008 Sasol SA Rally Championship so far, are:
S2000:
Jan Habig/Douglas Judd; Enzo Kuun/Guy Hodgson; Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries - BP Ultimate Volkswagen Polo
Johnny Gemmell/Peter Marsh; Mark Cronje/Robert Paisley - Castrol Toyota Auris
JP Damseaux/Cobus Vrey - Team Total Toyota RunX
Japie van Niekerk/Robin Houghton - Toyota RunX
Nicholas Ryan/Schalk van Heerden; Philips/Jonnesway Toyota RunX
Jon/Douglas Williams - Guma Volkswagen Polo
Etienne Lourens/Andre vermeulen; Team Total ---- ------
A7:
Gugu Zulu/Carl Peskin; BP Volkswagen Polo
Adrian Karth/Duncan English; NetConnect Volkswagen Polo
Barry Grobbelaar/? - Volkswagen Golf becoming a Polo, subject to sponsorship
Theuns Joubert/Hennie Botes - Salom Volkswagen Polo
Evan Hutchinson/Greg Gericke - Motorite Toyota RunX
Chris de Wit/Dean redelinghuys - Team Total Toyota RunX
Michael Otto/Hannes de Beer - Toyota Corolla
A6:
Craig Trott/Tony Ball - Team Total Toyota RunX
Stevan Wilken/Llewellyn Fourie - Pannar Volkswagen Polo
Salie/Armand du Toit - Team Total Toyota RunX
Mohammed Moosa/? - ?
Jose de Gouveia/? - Hi Speed Spares Toyota Corolla
Schalk Burger Jr/? - SBInvest Toyota Corolla
Andy Haigh Smith/? - React Toyota Corolla
Nico/Gert Nienaber - Toyota Corolla
A5:
Vusi Mabanga/Danie Strijom - Team Total Toyota Tazz
?/? - Sasol Toyota Yaris :-)
Andre Cleenwerck/Des de Fortier - BP Ultimate Volkswagen CitiGolf
Piet Bakkes/? - Toyota Tazz
Tjaart Conradie/? - Toyota Tazz
Henry Zermatten/? - Ryobi Toyota Yaris
Ashley Haigh Smith/? - React Toyota Yaris
N4:
Visser du Plessis/Dave Lewkowicz - Pirtek/Kreepy Krauly Subaru Impreza N14
Charl Wilken/Greg Godrich - Sasol/Konica Minolta Subaru Impreza N12B
Fernando Rueda/Gerhard Snyman - (new) Team Total Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
Richard Vaughan/? - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
Paul Pfeiffer/Cindi Harding - new N14 Impreza, probably start season with Evo 6
Lola/Megan Veraque - Team Total Subaru Impreza N10 or ------
Hein Lategan/Johan vd Merwe - Dastek Volkswagen Golf TDi 4Motion
N3:
Eugene Lourens/? - Team Total ---- ------
Rodney Visagie/Arno Lagrange - Team Total Toyota RunX
Kosta Koumantarakis/Barry White - Toyota RunX
Etienne du Toit/Patrick Vermaak - ----- Toyota RunX
Chase Attwell/? - BNS Toyota RunX |
| RALLYWORLD'S RANDOM PICTURE | 
Copyright: Dave Ledbitter
Images availabe for purchase. Phone Dave Ledbitter on 083-284-9355 | (w) 011-871-8600 | (h) 012-651-3158 | e-mail dave@rallyworld.net. |
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