Overall win for Eddie
After 14 years of competing on the rally circuit, Team Simpson Motors finally clinched the ultimate prize; winning the overall championship.
The eighth (and final) round of the North-Eastern Regional Rally Championship was held in Cullinan last Saturday.
After the seventh round (held in Middleburg), the team from Simpson Motors in their Opel Corsa, was still leading the pack in the overall standings.
However, two other competitors hot on their heels, added to some mechanical issues, complicated matters.
Losing a rear shock absorber during the first stage, as well as bursting a petrol pipe between the first and second stages, contributed to Team Simpson Motors having their share of problems.
Timely reparations by team members saved the day and their Opel Corsa made it to the finish line, giving the Simpson Motors Rally Team enough points to become the first overall rally championship winners.
Eddie Simpson’s navigator Jeremy du Plessis, who had to fly up from Cape Town for every race, also won the overall navigators championship. After the Middleburg round, Team Simpson Motors had two weeks time to get their Corsa race ready.
They would like to thank the following people who, in record time, made it possible: Jaques Smit from Rotec Engineering, Andre Ehlers from F2 Vehicle technologies Pietersburg, Herklaas Viljoen Service Manager, Mike Allen, Boet de Clerck, Dirk Janse van Rensburg, Jaco Rautenbach, Marco Lottering, Themba Khoza, Kevin Senekal and Adriaan Dique all from Simpson Motors.
Louis Menge from S & J Auto and Derrick Henning all worked until 21H00 on Friday evening.
Derrick and Louis then drove through the night to arrive in Cullinan before 07:00 the following morning. During the prize giving Eddie Simpson presented Derrick Henning, the team manager, a trophy for his loyal dedication and service in support of the team over a period of 14 years.
Eddie and Jeremy will now be invited to a Motorsport South Africa function in JHB where they will receive acknowledgement for winning in the form of a trophy, certificate and provincial colours for rallying.
