The year started with a brand new event in Welkom and another is planned for the second half of the season when the National Rally Championship moves to Heidelberg for the first time in more than 20 years. The rally, which was originally planned for the Cullinan area, will take place in and around the city on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 August.
The action is centred around the Heidelberg Mall, which will be rally headquarters for the event. It will also serve as the scrutineering venue, service park, start and podium finish. In addition the Mall will house a beer tent, ‘steak ranch’ and a variety of stalls – all of which the organisers are hoping will create an exciting carnival atmosphere. Heidelberg Mall is ideally situated directly off the N3 highway between the suburb of Bergsig and the Heidelberg CBD.
Stage planning is still underway but the rally promises a variety of challenging stages for the competitors and great spectating for anyone wanting to follow the action. Stages will take place on the local army base, through farmlands and there’s even one planned to run on the tarred roads through the suburbs near the shopping centre. Spectating at the stages is free but an entry fee will apply to anyone wanting to access the ‘Rally Village’ – the entertainment area and service park. This will go towards funding of the event. Ticket holders stand to win dozens of prizes including, caps, T-shirts, breakfast with the rally teams, helicopter flips with the TV crew and more.
The Heidelberg Business Chamber is firmly behind the rally and is excited about the exposure it will bring to its members and the revenue it promises to bring to the city. They are playing a major roll in the organization of the event, the planning of the route and in securing sponsors from the local community.
This is the only event on the calendar in Gauteng and with easy access from Pretoria, Johannesburg and the surrounding areas, we’re hoping for a really well-supported rally. More information will follow closer to the time but in the meantime we head to Port Elizabeth for the 32nd Volkswagen Rally on 15 and 16 July.