Dakar Success To Have Local Impact

19 January 2012

South Africa's recent successes in the Dakar Rally in South America will have a local impact, providing this year's Absa Off-Road Championship with a major boost.

The Imperial Toyota Hilux pair of Giniel de Villiers and German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz, who won the 2009 Dakar Rally, produced a stunning third-place finish. It was the third podium place for the pair in the last three years.

 

 

Toyota Hiluxes, built in accordance with regulations for South Africa's Absa Off-Road National Championship, excelled in the 2012 Dakar Rally (Photo: Motorsport South Africa)

Teammates Duncan Vos and Rob Howie finished 11th at their first attempt on the classic event, and Mark Corbett and Francois Jordaan claimed 24th place in their Century Racing CR4.

'Major boost'

"There is no doubt that the magnificent performances of South African teams on the Dakar Rally will provide the Absa series with a major boost this year," said South African Off-Road Racing Association chairman Richard Schilling.

"The Dakar successes will lead to much increased public and media awareness and interest.

"More important, however, is the very real possibility that new faces, in terms of both competitors and potential sponsors, will be attracted to the sport."

The toughest championship of its kind

Schilling added that the Dakar performances once again underlined the competitive nature of the Absa championship. The domestic series has long been regarded as the toughest championship of its kind in the world, and the South American results reflected this fact.

"The Dakar proved that when it comes to off-road racing, we have the technology, the personnel, and the professionalism to take on anyone in the world," Schilling said.

"There is also no doubt whatsoever [that] the Absa series provided the platform for performances of which we are all extremely proud.

"The Imperial Toyota and Century Racing teams have fired up renewed enthusiasm for off-road racing and, more than ever, the future of our sport is encouraging."

2012 season

This year's Absa Off-Road Championship opens on 9 and 10 March with the RFS Magalies 400, which will again be based at the Tarlton International Raceway near Krugersdorp. The championship will be run over eight events throughout South Africa and Botswana.

With both the Production and Special Vehicle championships going all the way to the wire last year, the 2012 season is expected to be equally competitive.

North West crew Jannie Visser and Joks le Roux (International Toyota Hilux) won last year’s Production Vehicle Championship, while the Phalaborwa-based father and son team of Hermann and Wichard Sullwald (Sullwald Racing SVR)lifted the Special Vehicle Championship title.

2012 CALENDAR