Gunning For Victory
The Young Guns – Richard Leeke Jnr and Henry Köhne – will be reunited for the Algoa Rally, with the Speedglas Welding Helmet Fiesta duo in action in the Eastern Cape next weekend (July 6/7).
Köhne, who had co-driven Leeke for 30 consecutive events, was forced to sit out the Desert Race at the end of June (the two of them also share a vehicle in the South African Cross Country Series) while recovering from a broken colour-bone sustained in a motorcycling accident.
“I’m glad to be back in a racing seat – it was a strange sensation not being with Richard in the Desert, but he was certainly in good hands with Danie alongside,” said Köhne, making reference to multiple-champion Danie Stassen who deputised for the Botswana race.
The Algoa Rally is the fourth of seven rounds that make up the 2018 National Rally Championship and is an important one for the Young Guns. After starting the year perfectly – with an overall victory – the next two rallies provided lean pickings with just six points from both outings.
Fortunately, things are tight at the front of the R2N class so a single good result can still cause a big swing at this stage of the season.
The event also has a special significance for the Young Guns and Leeke in particular: on this event last year he made local rallying history by becoming the youngest ever winner of a national championship rally.
“It would be great to go back to PE and repeat what we did a year ago,” acknowledged Leeke, “but our goal is to score as many points as possible and get back into the fray! The car is well-suited to the conditions, though you can never have enough power here, where there are lots of long straights! In that regard, we have something up our sleeve and hopefully we will be competitive in terms of outright grunt.”
If they do win, they would join luminaries such as Leeroy Poulter/Elvene Coetzee, Mark Cronje/Robin Houghton, Serge Damseaux/Robert Paisley and Damseaux/Guy Hodgson who have enjoyed back to back victories on this event in the current millennium.
The rally comprises 12 stages of approximately 150 kilometres and as has now become a tradition, they take place at Baywest Mall (which is also Rally HQ), Jachtvlakte Farm, Van Stadens Pass and the famous Longmore State Forest.
Local automotive business, Eastern Cape Motor Group, will be assisting the Young Guns for the duration of the event. Through Ford William Moffett, they have generously made a compact SUV available for Leeke/Kohne to use for the reconnaissance phase on Friday morning, with the vehicle then acting as a back-up/runabout for the support crew once the racing gets underway.
“As privateers, the budget is invariably a tight one so every little bit helps,” acknowledged Leeke. “We always appreciate the assistance the local Ford dealers are prepared to give when we’re in town and the guys from William Moffett have stepped up and helped us out!”
Image: Dave Ledbitter
