Mandla Mdakane and Kes Naidoo showcased their rally prowess at the recent rounds seven and eight of the Bronx Rally, held in Bronkhorstspruit over the weekend of October 13 to 14.
These rounds yielded mixed results for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA), marking Mdakane and Naidoo’s second Top Five finish in the 2023 South African National Rally Championship (NRC). Technical issues sidelined Jono van Wyk and his co-driver, Nico Swartz, resulting in two ‘Did Not Finish’ outcomes in as many starts.
For Van Wyk/Swartz, the Bronx Rally brought disappointment. The ‘Swazi Cowboy’ and his experienced co-driver demonstrated good pace throughout the season, but various challenges with their South African-built and developed Toyota Starlet rally car pushed them down the championship standings.
The Bronx Rally represented a maiden venture for the team, using in-house engines instead of powerplants supplied by a third party. While the engines themselves exceeded expectations, an issue with the cooling system in Van Wyk’s car led to a melted alternator cable, prematurely ending the Swazi Cowboy’s charge.
The final event of this year’s NRC season is the TRAC Rally, scheduled for November 17 to 18 in the Mpumalanga town of Dullstroom. While overall championship glory may be out of reach for Mdakane, a strong performance at the final event could secure him second place in the title race – a commendable goal, given his relatively rookie status in the sport.
“The Bronx Rally was a challenging one for the team,” remarked the TGRSA NRC team manager, Guy Botterill, after the event. “We had some great moments but were ultimately disappointed that Jono and Nico failed to score any points. With that said, Mandla and Kes did an excellent job, and we are encouraged by their results.”
Source: MotorPress
