Regular competitors on the Sasol Rally, those that are left, will find that the rally will be somewhat different this year compared to previous years. It seems that the organisers of the event, in line with the new approach sweeping through rallying, has also decided to do something different and exciting.
The biggest difference will be that the rally, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will start and finish in Sabie for the first time in its history. Sabie has always been the traditional start of the event and the start was quite a a lot of fun thanks to the carnival atmosphere that gave the start a special spirit. I don’t expect it to be any different this year.
The rally, the second round of the South African Rally Championship and also the second round of the African Rally Championship, will start in Sabie on Friday 22 April at 10:00. The first day will consist of six stages with a total distance of some 122 km before the cars return to Sabie where the overnight stop will by at the Floreat Riverside lodge.
The second day, Saturday, will be run over eight stages of approximately 100km and will include three tar stages of which two will be held as super special stages.
All the major stages will be in the forests around Sabie and the expectation is that the stages will be well prepared.
In the past the Sasol started in Sabie and finished the first day at the Lowveld Showgrounds for the overnight stop. The rally the second day at the showgrounds and it was a popular finish venue for the event.
The rally is being organised by the South African Motor Club and the Clerk of the Course is Willie du Plessis. The Sasol will be observed by four representatives of motorsport from Ethiopia for the first time this year. Ethiopia is apparently keen to have an international rally event as part of their motorsport activities.
You will find the spectator guide and supplementary regulations u8nder “event info” on this website.
Andries van der WALT