Reigning rally champions Mark Cronje and Robin Houghton are firmly in control of proceedings after the first day of the Toyota Cape Dealer Rally, which got underway in the Western Cape this afternoon.
 The powered their Ford Dealer Team Fiesta S2000 into the lead on the first special stage near Brackenfell and then used the second and third stages – both held at the Killarney racetrack – to consolidate their lead. With the cars in the service park at the track the duo had a 20-second lead over their fiercest championship rivals, Leeroy Poulter and Elvene Coetzee. Just a short (980 metres) ‘shopping mall’ stage remained, which was run twice, the second time in reverse order so the frontrunners cooled their heels for the best part of an hour and a half. Cronje/Houghton maintained their pace, third fastest first time around and second quickest when it was run as the final stage of the day. “Everything went according to plan,” grinned Cronje. “We took a bit of a gamble on the set-up at Killarney and it really worked for us. To have 18 seconds in hand after just 47 stage kilometres is very useful. The meat of the event takes place tomorrow however and there is nearly 130 kilometres of racing ahead, so we must maintain concentration.” With the exception of the opening stage, today’s stages were run on tarmac, unlike the seven stages of the second day, which are all on gravel. Proceedings get underway at 8 am, when Cronje/Houghton, now first on the road, tackle the 26.5 kilometre Langgewens stage for the first of two occasions. Photography byline: Eric Buijs ENDS |