Multiple South African champion Evan Hutchison, the current route director for the SA Rally-Raid Championship, has advised that he will be curtailing his duties with the championship at the end of March.
This decision comes after his recent involvement with TGRSA at the 2022 Dakar Rally, where the team was not only crowned number one in the world, but also saw all four their entries finish in the top 20.
Hutchison, a perfectionist, successfully managed his own racing teams for many years, with his passion for the sport, people and success ingrained.
“The opportunity to work with the number-one team in the world was an awesome experience, and when I was offered the occasion to join Hallspeed on a full-time basis, I was astounded,” he said. “I will not be leaving the SA Rally-Raid Championship in the lurch as my commitment to Hallspeed will still allow me to work with the SA Rally-Raid team, albeit on a reduced scale.”
Hutchison already has the first two rounds of the championship in the bag with some new additions and final touches being made to the TGRSA 1000 Desert Race in Upington this coming week. From this point on, Rudi Muller, the assistant route director, who has worked with the championship for many years and with Hutchison since the beginning of the 2020 season, will take over the hard yards for the remaining four rounds of the championship.
“Losing a key member of a team is never easy, but we have comfort knowing that Evan is not lost to the SA Rally-Raid Championship or the sport. Evan will remain on the SA Rally-Raid Exco and will work closely with Rudi, ensuring that the high standards set over the past two years are maintained, and will play a pivotal role when it comes to the final routes,” said CEO Archie Rutherford.
Following the TGRSA 1000 Desert Race, the SA Rally-Raid Championship returns to familiar territory for round four – the Bronkhorstspruit 400 in August, before travelling to the popular Nampo Park for round five and six at the end of September, and the season finale in Parys in early November. For the well-established SA Rally-Raid team, it will be business as usual, ensuring all pre-planning and procedures are taken care of. Pre-running all the routes will be done by Rudi and the experienced navigator Mike Lawrenson, who has also worked with the team for the past two year.
“I am confident that the transition will be hassle-free, and that competitors and spectators can look forward to a demanding and exciting 2022 season. We would like to wish Evan all the success he deserves, and trust his new journey will expose him to new horizons and opportunities,” said Rutherford.
Source: SACCS
