Dramatic opening to South African Cross Country Championship is on the cards
New teams and driver/co-driver combinations, old and new faces and the hype that goes with the start of a new season will all be grist to the mill at the Lichtenburg 400, the opening round of the South African Cross Country Series (SACCS) Auto Championship, on March 31.The Production Vehicle line-up features all of the above and the Lichtenburg event will kick off proceedings in what is certain to develop into a highly interesting season. The Auto and Moto championships have been rebranded under the SACCS umbrella, and the six events that make up the calendar look likely to overflow with competitive racing.
At the sharp end of the championship are the two factory Toyota Gazoo Racing SA entries that will contest the FIA Class. South African champions Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie will again be paired together, with former Dakar winner Giniel de Villiers sitting alongside Dennis Murphy.
De Villiers replaces former champion Anthony Taylor, who has given Toyota yeoman service down the years, with the two teams set to dominate the overall championship in vehicles that meet Dakar specifications. It is a completely different kettle of fish in Class T – for cars above four litres with solid axle rear suspension – and here battle will be resumed with some highly talented privateers stacked up against an assault from the Ford Performance Neil Woolridge Motorsport Puma Lubricants team running a trio of factory backed Ford Rangers.
Reigning champions Jason Venter and Vince van Allemann (4×4 Mega World Toyota Hilux) can no longer be referred to as “up and coming youngsters” with a bright future. They have come through the ranks and are now seasoned campaigners, but could find that winning back to back championships is more difficult than landing the first title.
The Ford squad offers a balance of youth and experience with Lance Woolridge reunited with Ward Huxtable with whom he started his career. Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer also now fit into the “seasoned campaigners” category, with the team completed by rookies Henk Lategan and Barry White who have plenty of national and international rally experience.
The reshuffle in the Ford Performance NWM Puma Lubricants line-up means there is no place for Chris Visser – but the former South African champion remains among the serious challengers in Class T. Japie Badenhorst returns after a season on the sidelines to rejoin Visser in the rebuilt ex Gary Bertholdt Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux, and the pair bring to the table experience and pace.
Bertholdt and Philip Herselman, in the Atlas Copco VW Amarok, and brothers Johan and Werner Horn (Malalane Toyota Hilux) join the list of high profile challengers hoping for more consistency – but there is more to come in terms of Class T challengers. Combinations like Luke Botha/Andre Vermeulen (Red-Lined Nissan Navara), Hennie de Klerk/Rodney Burke (Treasury One VW Amarok) and Deon Venter/Jaco van Aardt (4×4 Mega World Toyota Hilux) all have the ability to upset an applecart or two.
There is a welcome return to action for Jacques van Tonder, partnered by the experienced Leander Pienaar in a Ford Ranger, with newcomers Wayne and Paula Plit unknown quantities in the ex de Klerk BWM X3. There is also a team from Namibia with Walvis Bay-based businessman Riaan van Rensburg, partnered by the experienced Ferdi Pieterse, out in the ex Ruwacon Ford Ranger.
All things considered Class T adds up to an ultra-competitive category, and when it comes to picking winners the pin and blindfold method is as good as any. As always consistency and reliability – with a dollop of luck thrown in – will be key championship ingredients.
Class S, for cars up to four litres with solid axle rear suspension, also has a competitive look and feel about it but because of business commitments reigning champions Otto Graven/Bobby Brewis and Ronald Graven/Lohan Faber will miss the Lichtenburg race in the pair of Graven Motorsport Toyota Hilux entries. That will see the father/son combination of former South African champion Jannie Visser and Chris junior, in another Toyota Hilux, carrying the smart money.
The race is in the Visser’s backyard and they will enjoy local support – but they are also up against some pretty stern competition. Heine Strumpher/Henri Hugo (Toyota Hilux) and David Huddy/Gerhard Schutte (Nissan Navara) are experienced campaigners and two sons of famous fathers will make their national series debuts.
Archie Rutherford, chief executive officer of SACCS and a former SA champion, returns to action and will have son Kent alongside him in a Toyota Hilux, while Richard Leeke junior makes his first appearance, partnered by Henry Kohne, in a Ford Ranger. Leeke junior is the son of former cross country and rally champion Richard Leeke and has a good deal of rally experience, but the genes alone make sure the young man will come under intense scrutiny.
Race headquarters, the start/finish and designated service park with all be located at the Lichtenburg show ground on the outskirts of Lichtenburg, with public entry to the areas and spectator points along the route free of charge. The 50 kilometre dash to determine grid positions will start at 14:00 on March 31, and the race gets underway at 08:30 on Saturday, April 1.
Enthusiasts worldwide will also be able to follow the race via the RallySafe app which tracks the cars on a detailed map with access to split times and results. The app is downloaded free of charge for use on Apple or Android devices.