Revised 2021 calendar heralds in latter half of SACCS season

2021-07-21

With only three weeks remaining before the scheduled Vryburg 400, round four and five of the SA Cross Country Series (SACCS) on 13 and 14 August, SACCS adopted a proactive approach to the balance of the 2021 season.

“The severity of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions on interprovincial travel and the rapidly evolving state of unrest which affected major parts of our country recently, prompted SACCS to revisit the 2021 calendar to ensure the stability of our championship,” said SACCS Chief Executive Officer Archie Rutherford. Cancelling or postponing events at short notice has its challenges, but in view of the totally unpredictable times we are living in we are confident that the changes to the 2021 calendar are sensible and justified.”

The revised calendar sees a change of dates and event formats, with the adjustments putting the season on hold until early October when the 4×4 Mega World 400 at Nampo Park on 1 and 2 October will kick-start the second half of the season after a three month break following the TGRSA 1000 Desert Race in Upington at the end of June.

The 4×4 Mega World 400 will comprise two one-day events representing round four and five of the SACCS championship. Both events on Friday, 1 and Saturday, 2 October will consist of a short Pirelli Qualifying race in the morning followed by two separate routes of approximately 350 kilometres on each day.

The Vryburg 400, the penultimate round originally scheduled for 13 and 14 August, has been relocated to 29 and 30 October with all the action taking place from the Vryburg Motor Club on the outskirts of Vryburg. Due to the number of motorsport events taking place in the Vryburg area between September and end November, the event will constitute round six of the championship. The format for the weekend will comprise a Pirelli Qualifying race of approximately 50 kilometres on Friday, 29 October. The main race on Saturday, 30 October will be made up of two loops of approximately 310 kilometres in total.

The season finale will again take place in the peaceful surrounds of Parys and has been moved to Saturday, 20 November. This action packed one day event will get underway from the Parys Airfield with a short Pirelli Qualifying race in the morning followed by two loops of approximately 175 kilometres each.

“The 2021 SACCS championship offers competitors a good mix of locations and terrain during the season and we are delighted that the changes to the 2021 calendar has not affected this balance,” said multiple SA Cross Country Champion and SACCS Route Director Evan Hutchison. The wellbeing of our championship is of utmost importance to all of us and providing the best possible platform to maintain our high standards and ensure the longevity of our series, is paramount to our future success.”