PARYS. – The opening round of the 2023 Off Road North Championship series, initially scheduled to take place in the Weiveld area on Saturday, 18 February, and subsequently rescheduled to 25 February, has unfortunately been canceled due to heavy rains and flooding in the areas in and around the event’s planned route.
There has been substantial flooding in the Parys area, on routes leading to Parys and roads surrounding the Weiveld Boeresaal over the weekend.
The situation has led the organisers to take the difficult decision to call off the opening round of the 2023 MSA Northern Regions Off Road Car Racing Championship, in the best interests of competitors, landowners, and the surrounding community.
Although no further flooding or heavy rains are forecast for the rest of the week, the route and the surrounding access roads, which are primarily gravel and dirt, are not expected to dry out sufficiently by the weekend to support the safe and successful staging of the event.
Given the substantial flood damage sustained by Parys and surrounding communities over the weekend of 18 – 19 February, the organisers have decided to stage the event later in the season, once conditions have improved.
“Our thoughts are with the Parys community and those in surrounding areas as they start mopping up operations after last weekend’s flooding.
“We look forward to staging the Weiveld 300 later on in the season again, once conditions have improved, and returning to Parys to enjoy the warm welcome we have come to expect in past years.
“We will be back at the Weiveld Boeresaal later on this year and the teams will again support hospitality businesses in and around Parys,” said event organiser, Adri Roets of Off-Road SA.
“We sincerely apologise to all parties concerned and are just as disappointed as our many local supporters that we were not able to open the 2023 season at Weiveld.
“The decision was taken in the best interests of the competitors, landowners, spectators and broader community and we remain committed to incorporating this popular event at a more opportune time.
“A special thank you to the Weiveld Boerevereniging and Epilepsy Free State and North West Branch for their ongoing support of the series, we look forward to seeing you again soon.
