Altogether 12 cars were on the start line this afternoon when the Hallspeed Rally, the seventh and final round of the 2016 National Rally Championship started. The national champions in both class S2000 and S1600 have been decided, As a result none of the two “works” Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris cars have been entered since they have been sold.
The 12 cars that have been entered consist of one S2000, two NRC4, eight S1600 and one NRC2 car. This is the second time this season, that is being billed as the end of an era since S2000 will no longer compete in national rallies, that only 12 cars started.
At the end of the two stages that was run today in the Bronkhorstpruit area, Luke Botha in the only S2000 Ford Fiesta, was leading the rally with a time of 24:31.5. Second overall was Wilro Dippenaar from Namibia in a NRC4 Toyota Auris +0.7.
Third was the S1600 national Champion, Guy Botteril in a Toyota Etios R2, +1:38.8, followed by Marko Himmel also in a Toyota Etios R2 +1:55.2.
Richard Leeke in a Ford Fiesta was next +1:55.6 followed by AC Potgieter in a Volkswagen Polo R2.
The rally consists of eight stages and six will be contested tomorrow before the rally finishes in Bronkhorstpruit.