Resident and partner win Motorite qualifier
FOURWAYS - Read up on the reigning Motorite Bat Viper South African champions and the start to their new season.
Reigning Motorite Bat Viper South African champions, Fourways resident, Evan Hutchison and partner Danie Stassen, won the special vehicle qualifying event.
The race was held to determine the grid positions as the duo cruised to a comfortable victory on 2 April. The Motorite squad was also voted team of the event at the prize-giving ceremony.
The RFS Vryburg endurance opening round of the Donaldson Cross Country Championship provided the stage for motorite racing to start the new season.
The former South African champions, Quintin and Kallie Sullwald, came in sixth place in the Motorite Bat Venom when they made a comeback to the Donaldson series after they had to sit out the whole of last season.
Hutchison and Stassen finished the 190km qualifying event two minutes and 45 seconds ahead of Keith Makanete and Greg Godrich in an earlier Spec Bat.
During the race, over a pair of 245km laps, Hutchison and Stassen then opened up a gap of more than 12 minutes over second-placed Sarel van Biljon and Philip Herselam in another Bat.
“You have to be happy after a start like that and the whole team did a great job throughout the race, but there was a time immediately after qualifying when we were a little nervous,” Hutchison said.
During the qualifying race, the Motorite Bat Viper picked up a gearbox leak, which the technical crew sorted out overnight, and Hutchison and Stassen had a clear run during the race.
“It was a very fast and dusty route littered with rocks, you had to keep your wits about you. The car ran like clockwork during the race and we were never under any pressure at any stage. It would be nice if all races were like that,” Hutchison quipped.
With an early lead in both the overall and premier Class A championships, Hutchison and Stassen are set to participate at the next event on the Donaldson series calendar.
Teams are set to head for Vredefort, in the Free State, for a one-day super sprint race over two 100km laps on 7 May.
“We never had any real problems during qualifying and the race, and the Motorite technical crew did a great job. It is going to be an interesting event. After the start we have had to the season, confidence is sky high and we will be looking to maintain the momentum,” Hutchison said.
Details: www.motoriteracing.co.za
