Donaldson Cross County Championship personalities walked away with four prestige awards at the annual Motorsport South Africa (MSA) awards ceremony in Johannesburg over the weekend.
Richard Schilling, Evan Hutchison, Leeroy Poulter and Toyota South Africa were among the South African motorsport personalities honoured at the function. Schilling was honoured with a Lifetime Award, Hutchison won a Special Award, Poulter was awarded senior Springbok colours and Toyota were awarded for winning yet another Donaldson Cross Country Manufacturer’s title.
A former SA champion and chief executive officer of SANORA, which administers the Donaldson Cross Country Motor Racing Championship, Schilling is also president of the FIA Cross Country Commission and a former president of MSA. After a lifetime devoted to cross country racing and South African motorsport, Schilling recently handed the SANORA reins to Siegfried Rousseau but remains president of the FIA Cross Country Commission.
Under Schilling’s watch at SANORA the Donaldson Cross Country Championship developed into the most competitive championship of its kind in world motorsport, and South Africa has emerged as an influential player in international cross country racing.
With six South African championships and 20 race wins to his name, Hutchison has been a dominant force in the Special Vehicle category in the Donaldson Cross Country Championship for more than a decade. Hutchison and co-driver Danie Stassen won this year’s Special Vehicle title with an event to spare while Hutchison, who also has a South African rally title to his name, also doubles up as team manager of the highly successful Motorite Racing squad.
The versatile Poulter is one of the most talented all-rounders in SA motorsport history and has won regional, national and world championship titles in karting, circuit racing, rallying and cross country racing. Poulter and Rob Howie, in a Castrol Team Toyota Hilux, completely dominated the Production Vehicle category in this year’s Donaldson series, and the pair will again tackle the iconic Dakar Rally early next year.
Castrol Team Toyota, under the guidance of team principle Glyn Hall, went through the season unbeaten and romped away with the prestige SA Manufacturer’s Championship.
“No one is more deserving of an MSA Lifetime Award than Richard,” said Rousseau. “The current strength of the Donaldson Cross Country Championship and South Africa’s standing in the international cross country community is testimony to Richard’s passion for the sport and his skill as an administrator.
“Evan and Leeroy have also made huge contributions to cross country racing, and are role models for young competitors looking to carve out successful careers in South African motor racing.