TRETHEWEY AND ROETS STORM ON AT THE FRONT WHILE THE DESERT TOOK ITS TOLL ON SPECIAL VEHICLES
As the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA (TGRSA) 1000 Desert Race reached the halfway mark in Upington on Saturday and with the third and final day of this marathon race remaining, competitors in the Special Vehicle Category had their work cut out for them on a route that included thick sandy sections as well as hazardous rocks. And those whose vehicles could withstand the challenges of two days of racing and more than 500 kilometres, are reaping the rewards.
The TGRSA Desert Race 1000 started with a 105km Pirelli Qualifying Race on Friday, 18 June that determined the starting order for Saturday. The combined results of Friday and Saturday will determine the starting order for the third and final day with 400 kilometres and a new route awaiting the Class A and Class P teams as well as those with their Side-by-Sides (SxS) in Class G of the Special Vehicle Category.
Racing in the thick sand is quite a challenge, especially for the SxS vehicles and although the Class A and P vehicles are fitted with powerful engines, there are no windscreens and are only two-wheel drive. The teams, however, enjoyed the TGRSA 1000 Desert Race with veteran competitor, Clint Gibson, commenting that this is probably the closest he will get to experiencing Dakar Rally racing conditions.
It was the former champions and leaders after the Pirelli Qualifying Race, Lance Trethewey/Adriaan Roets (Schalk Burger Motorsport BAT) who persevered and still lead despite losing time with a flat tyre. At the halfway mark, Trethewey/Roets, who also won the Toyota Desert Race 1000 in Botswana in 2019, have a total race time of 6:04:46 and are also the leaders of Class A.
They are however not too far ahead of their closest rivals, Gibson and navigator, Alaric Smith in the Stryker (6:10:17) who moved up one position after starting as the third Special Vehicle on Saturday morning. They trail the leaders by five and a half minutes.
Experienced desert racers, John Thomson/Maurice Zermatten (Mormond Zarco) had a challenge of note being the very last team to tackle the race on Saturday morning after experiencing electronic issues on Friday and not being able to complete the Pirelli Qualifying Race. Overheating problems and suspension failure did not stop them from making it to the finish and they are now sitting in third place overall as well as in the Class A championship.
In Class A, Sandra Labuschagne-Jonck and Jaco Jonck (Moto-Netix KEC Racing Porter) moved up to the fourth place.
There were problems for Class A teams Tim Howes/Gary Campbell (BAT) as well as Boela Botes/Jay Pretorius (Schalk Burger Motorsport Porter) who were the second team in the Special Vehicle category to start the race on Saturday, but could not reach the finish. Kobus Fourie/Dion Booyens (BAT) as well as Lood du Preez/Tiaan Swart (Farmers Meat Stryker) were also halted by issues. If they can complete the necessary repairs, they will be able to start the third and final day on Sunday and can still be deemed as finishers if they complete the final racing kilometres.
Daniel Retief/Pieter Karsten (CR-T) took the lead in Class P as local Upington businessman, Willem du Toit and Victor Fincham (CR-T) retired with a broken clutch. They will however be back on the last day.
The desert took it all out of the Can-Am Maverick SxS vehicles who had to tackle the race with a different approach – holding back somewhat so as not put too much strain on the vehicle’s drive belts and making sure to get to the finish. This strategy worked perfectly for the new Class G leaders, the young farmers, Theo Erasmus/Edward Odendaal (6:59:35) who are now leading the Larney brothers, Cecil and Elardus (7:04:24) by just under five minutes. It is the first desert racing experience for these two teams who are enjoying their baptism of fire in the Northern Cape.
Dean Bradbury/Timmy Botes (7:10:07) are still within striking distance as they trail the Larney brothers by just under six minutes and round off the Class G podium. The defending Class G champion, Nico du Rand, this time with Greg Parkin in the navigator seat, are fourth in the class (8:12:44) followed by former champions, Werner and Leon Mostert (Schalk Burger Motorsport) who did not have a good day in the field, but are still in the race and in fifth place in the class.
There were problems for the initial Class G leaders, the Rutherford brothers, Kent and Justin who had to call it a day due to suspension issues while Geoff Minnitt/Gerhard Snyman also broke down.
The TGRSA 1000 Desert Race will continue on Sunday, 20 June at 07:45 when the teams will take on the third and final day from the Upington Expo Showgrounds. A 200km loop awaits which they will have to complete twice to be deemed finishers.
Enthusiasts can follow the action by downloading the RallySafe App for mobile devices as well as on YouTube and Facebook.
