There will be a changing of the guard later this year at SANORA, the organisation that administers the Donaldson Cross Country championship in South Africa.After seven years at the helm former South African champion Richard Schilling is to step down as chief executive officer of SANORA in December, and will be replaced by Siegfried Rousseau. Schilling will continue as president of the FIA Cross Country Commission which controls the sport worldwide.
“I have always had a passion for cross country racing, and will continue to be involved in the sport in South Africa,” Schilling said. “Along with our partners and other stakeholder I am confident Siegfried is the right person to lead cross country racing in this country into the future.
Schilling added he was also working with SANORA on the possibility of staging a Southern Africa marathon event. It was hoped this would come to fruition towards the end of 2016.
Rousseau has been a member of the SANORA executive committee since 2011. He served as competitor liaison officer until 2013 when he took over as financial director.
Rousseau has been competing in national cross country events for 12 years, and is a three time winner of the Toyota 1000 Desert Race with Shameer Variawa in the Special Vehicle category. In recent seasons he switched to the Production Vehicle category, and has co-driven for Gary Bertholdt in the Atlas Copco Ford factory team and in a privateer Atlas Copco Ford Ranger.
“Richard and his executive committee has steered the sport onto solid ground and the Donaldson Cross Country Championship is regarded as the most competitive national series of its kind in the world,” Rousseau said. “He is going to be a tough act to follow, but I relish the opportunity of putting something back into a sport that has given me and the cross country fraternity so much pleasure.
“There are challenges ahead but SANORA has always enjoyed a solid relationship with its partners, stakeholders and competitors and our job is to continue to build on the platform that has established the Donaldson Cross Country Championship as the jewel in the South African motorsport crown.”
Rousseau added that one of the biggest challenges facing cross country racing and other motorsport categories in South Africa was the pressure the economy was placing on competitors. This applied both to national competition and grass roots racing at regional level.
“Finding ways and means to make racing more affordable without compromising on safety or the fun aspects of the sport will be a focal point for SANORA,” Rousseau said. “It is a fine balancing act but we will continue to work with our partners and competitors to maintain the high standards and status cross country racing enjoys.”
Rousseau added, however, that the current economic climate also provided a positive spin-off that could provide future strength and stability for cross country racing. Current exchange rate trends identified the Donaldson championship as an attractive testing and racing destination for international teams.
“We currently have teams from Germany, Portugal, Australia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana and Swaziland competing on a regular basis in South Africa,” Rousseau said. “The potential is there for the Donaldson series to attract more international competitors, particularly from Europe and further north in Africa.
“SANORA will also strive to take advantage of a growing South African participation in the Dakar Rally in South America, and there is every reason to remain optimistic about the future of cross country racing in this country.”
The final event in this year’s Donaldson Cross Country Championship will be the Atlas Copco Gold 450 on the West Rand on October 30 and 31. The event will again be based at the Kloof Country Club in Glenharvie.