Consistency paid off for Hennie de Klerk and Achim Bergmann when they won the Dakar Challenge on the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race this past weekend.
De Klerk and former South African champion Bergmann, in the Treasury One/Atlas Copco VW Amarok, were the only Dakar Challenge entries to see out the distance on the gruelling event, the only marathon race on the SACCS calendar, in Botswana. One by one the main challengers fell by the wayside with the prize for de Klerk and Bergmann a free entry into next year’s Dakar Rally.
“This is an event like no other in the South African championship, but we put together a solid weekend,” said a delighted de Klerk. In the final classification the Treasury One/Atlas Copco VW Amarok was placed ninth overall behind three FIA Class and five Class T entries.
“We hardly had to get out of the car,” said de Klerk. “We had a puncture or two but on a typical Botswana route with more sand and more sand Achim and I decided the best approach was to be steady and taken no chances.
“It certainly paid off and the VW Amarok performed beautifully.”
Three of the main challengers to de Klerk and Bergmann, who played a major role in building the VW Amarok, fell by the wayside during the first leg of race. Henk Lategan/Barry White (Ford NWM Puma Lubricants Ranger), Schalk Burger and SA rally champion Elvéne Coetzee (King Price Extreme Porter) and local Botswana crew Keith du Toit and Robbie Coetzee (Scandia/White Star Racing BAT) all failed to finish the opening stint – and it was all over bar the shouting.
De Klerk is a former circuit racing champion who turned to cross country competition. His ambition is to compete in the Dakar Rally which he regards as the ‘greatest adventure in the world.”
Married with two children de Klerk is also a fitness freak and spends 60 minutes in the gym each morning. He runs at least 10 kilometres over weekends and motorsport, mountain biking and ‘eating at great restaurant’ are favourite pastimes.
Bergmann is single and also a fitness fanatic and has competed in iron man competitions. One of his favourite events is the Red Bull Romaniacs in which he will again be competing in July this year.
As a race car constructor Bergmann has been involved in the development of the VW Amarok and Renault Dusters. He is also involved in circuit racing car construction and hobbies include mountain bike racing.
“Competing in the Dakar Rally has been one of my ultimate motorsport goals,” said Bergman.
The Desert Race was won by former Dakar Rally champion Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy in a Toyota Gazoo Racing SA entry. In an exciting race de Villiers and Murphy won by only six seconds ahead of team-mates and South African champions Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie who also have Dakar Rally experience.