The final round of the 2018 South African National Cross Country Series (SACCS), the Gold 400, that takes place on 2 and 3 November in the Glenharvie area on the West Rand, is the sixth and last chance for title contenders.
A media statement released by SACCS said, “Not much separates the teams from each other and anything can still happen. The reliability of race vehicles as well as playing it safe and a meticulously planned strategy, will all play a vital role in the outcome and the final standings in the various championships.”
SACCS said the two Toyota Gazoo Racing SA teams swapped places after the recent Harrismith 400 with Henk Lategan and Barry White taking the lead in the FIA Class. Their team-mates and current overall leaders, Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy will, however, still hope to strike gold to claim the title.
The battle will be on in the Toyota camp as newcomers Henk and Barry would like nothing better than to bag the title, and with no team orders, spectacular racing can be expected.
“Neither team can afford to lose sight of Chris Visser and Philip Herselman (in an Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux) who could throw a spanner in the works and pick up the pieces if the battle upfront boils over. Two other wily foxes in the equation, former champions Shameer Variawa and Zaheer Bodhanya (in the Red-Lined Motorsport Nissan Navara) are also capable of an upset.
“Shameer and Zaheer will be joined by three more Red-Lined Nissans in the capable hands of Terence Marsh (currently fourth in the standing) and Letshego Zulu, regular international participants Thomas Bell and Patrick McMurren, and newcomers Ernest Roberts and Stuart Creevy.”
SACCS said the class is rounded out by Johan van Staden and Mike Lawrenson in the Elf Renault Duster. It is a competitive line-up but receiving the chequered flag after 400 kilometres will be the determining factor in the results.
The Class T battle will also be one for the books as the class leaders, Lance Woolridge and Ward Huxtable (in a Ford NWM Ranger) will hate to see the title slipping away after missing it by the smallest of margins for the past two years.
The title and a fourth win this season will be on their to-do list at Glenharvie, but as only nine points separate them from the defending champions, Johan and Werner Horn (driving the Malalane Toyota Hilux) they will have to play their cards right.
The Horn brothers would like nothing more than to defend their title successfully and this season-long rivalry will continue at the Gold 400.
“Meanwhile, Lance Woolridge’s brother and team-mate, Gareth, and navigator Boyd Dreyer took the Class T victory last time out and that pushed them onto the podium from where they now also have a foot in the door for the title. It will not be over until the proverbial fat lady sings, and like in the FIA Class, a nail-biting race is on the cards.
“They will have to juggle a few balls though as they focus on the title and their battles, while not losing sight of the opposition teams. These teams include Gary Bertholdt and Geoff Minnitt (driving an Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux) who only slipped off the Class T podium after the Harrismith event.
They won earlier this season and can do so again and will be hoping for a final podium result to end off the year. With only 17 points separating the first four teams, the pressure will be on all of them to produce the goods at the Gold 400.”
On Saturday, spectators can get to meet their favourite teams and have posters signed during the compulsory 30-minute service halt at the Kloof Club before the national competitors tackle the second of the two loops again at noon. With lots of food and refreshments at the Kloof Club and great racing action that can be viewed along the route, the Gold 400 is an event not to be missed.
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