Dullstroom will come alive with the sound of revving engines when the country’s top rally drivers
head to this renowned Mpumalanga tourist town in November, for the 2020 TRACN4 National
Rally.
This is the second consecutive year that TRAC is sponsoring a round of the South African Rally
Championship series, with this year’s last two rounds also serving as the grand finale of the
National Rally Championships (NRC).
Due to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the organisers decided to host all the 2020
events as double headers, making the 2020 TRACN4 National Rally rounds 5 & 6 of the
championship.
The theme of the TRAC-hosted race is Legends, which is in line with the NRC’s 60th anniversary
this year. The South African National Rally Championship is the oldest consecutive running
championship in motorsport in SA and the theme will ensure that the 2020 championship ends in
style, with both the current and past heroes of the sport getting the recognition they deserve.
The Dullstroom Epilepsy Centre will also get much-deserved recognition and socio-economic
development assistance, as it will host the rally headquarters and service park. The centre, which
is affiliated to Epilepsy South Africa, has been in operation for many years and plays a pivotal role
in the lives of epilepsy sufferers and their families in the rural and deep-rural areas of
Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
The 2020 TRACN4 National Rally will be held over two days – 27 and 28 November – with a
number of action-packed stages in the Safcol-owned forest area that envelopes the picturesque town. The stages were carefully selected and are sure to deliver when competitors put pedal tothe metal.
According to TRAC corporate social investment (CSI) executive manager Adri Fourie, bringing the
event to this tourist town made sense. Not only is it just off the N4, but the Safcol forests that
surround it will make it one of the most memorable races of the 2020 NRC.
Safcol’s Siphelele Sixaso agrees. “With socio-economic development central to Safcol’s corporate
social investment (CSI) goals, the rally is in line with our transformation strategy.” He adds, “We
value events such as these as they create social and economic benefits for the communities that
we operate in. We believe the 2020 TRACN4 National Rally will generate much interest in, and
attraction to, the Emakhazeni region, which has its fair amount of challenges”
Some of the SA Rally Championship’s top drivers will be putting each other and their cars to the
test – from current championship leaders Guy Botterill and navigator Simon Vacy-lyle, in their
imported Toyota Etios R4, to Chris Coertse and navigator Greg Godrich, who will be biting at their
heels in their brand new, locally-manufactured Hyundai I20 R4
.
The heat will also be on between the rest of the NRC 1 class drivers and navigators. Theuns
Joubert, in his S2000 Toyota Auris, and Johan Strauss, in his four-wheel drive Subaru, will be
racing for top honours. A magnificently built Toyota Celica GT4 will also enter the event, which will
add to the atmosphere of the Legends’ theme.
In the NRC 2 class, the previous R2N National Championship class, AC Potgieter will join the ranks
in his 1000 cc turbo-charged VW Polo, with Team Boertjies, made up of JJ Potgieter and Tommie
du Toit, in their Ford Fiesta. Michael McGregor and co-driver Robbie Coetzee, and George
Smalberger and Anriko Opperman, in their respective VW Polos, will also be in action. Further
adding to the Legends’ theme, the much-loved classic Ford Escorts belonging to Natie Booysen
and Ashleigh McKenzie will also be seen at the starting line.
A brand-new entry-level class, NRC 3, has been introduced in the form of the Polo GT Cup. This
category aims to attract newcomers into rallying, in a very affordable 1000 cc Turbo Polo Vivo
rally car, built by Volkswagen Motorsport in South Africa. Challengers Jayden Els, Rotax Karting
World Champion, and karting hero Benjamin Habig, son of legendary Jannie Habig, are the
current contenders for the win in this class.
Regrettably, due to COVID-19, strict protocols will be in place and spectators will not be permitted
at this year’s event. However, all the fast, thrilling action can be followed on all the SARallying
social media pages and on RaceDay TV, which will share the action on various social media
platforms as well.