Another victory at last for Lategan and Cummings

Rocky mountains; fast and twisty tracks; dust, dust and more dust – just a few words describing the PS Laser ProMac Vryheid 400, the second round of the SA Rally-Raid Championship that took place in Vryheid. It was former multiple champions Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux IMT EVO) who claimed their first victory since last winning in August 2023.
It was a level playing field for the teams, who visited Vryheid for the first time, and the extremely tough and testing route took its toll on the competitors and their vehicles. The challenge started on Friday, May 24, with the short 15km Castrol Qualifying Race, followed by stage 1 of 38km, while the teams then had to complete stages 2 and 3 of 175km each on Saturday, May 25, for a total of just over 400 extremely demanding kilometres.
In the end, Lategan and Cummings, who finished the first day in sixth place, took the lead early in stage 2 and didn’t look back to earn the laurels as the first victors of the inaugural PS Laser ProMac Vryheid 400. The duo had a fairly clean race and they were delighted to be on the top step of the podium again.
The final race day started on an interesting note for the top three teams in the Adventurer T1 Class, as they all completed the first day with the exact same combined time. But while the defending champions, Eben Basson and Leander Pienaar (#TeamHilux Rally-Raid Toyota), were forced into retirement with severe rear suspension damage, the Heinleins – Gerhard and Rudi (Red-Lined VK56) – romped home in 12th place overall and second in the class in a total time of 07:35.39. Their Red-Lined Motorsport teammates, Philip Botha and Gerhard Schutte, received a time penalty on Friday and started stage 2 on Saturday towards the back of the field, but they persevered to round off the Adventurer T1 podium to finish 16th overall in a time of 08:21.50.
Next up is the TGRSA Safari 1000, when teams will take to the Waterberg area on June 21, 22 and 23 for this three-day marathon event and round 3 of the SARRC.

The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.