Rally champs to kick up dirt this weekend
On Saturday a regional rally class will join in the fun, where the locals will battle it out for KZN honours and bragging rights.
By Sinothi Cele
MOTORING enthusiasts are in for a treat as Scottburgh is revved to host the first leg of this year’s national rally championship.
The rally makes a welcome return to Scottburgh’s sugar cane fields after an one year absence, with the two day event scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday, 10 and 11 March.
There will be nine stages with a total race distance of 320kms, the first of which starts at 3pm on Friday. Saturday’s start is scheduled for 8.30am with the rally set to finish at about 2.30pm, and the podium prize giving beginning at 4pm.
The rally will feature three race classes and this year will see the R2 class replace the s2000 as the premier race class, as well as the introduction of a new formula Classic Rally South Africa, which will feature pre-1985 cars. Among this class’ hairy chested 1980’s type machinery, watch out for the BMW 130 of locals Trevor Graham and Brian Clifton. Excess power on the slippery roads will make this an exciting beast to watch.
The third class will be the open class which will feature previous rally cars and built cars which don’t comply with the other two categories.
There is no entry fee and the public is encouraged to interact with drivers. The rally headquarters are also open to everyone in attendance, so feel free to go along and witness the service crews in action, chat to the teams and collect team posters and autographs.
The event will be based at the Scottburgh Country Club, and information is available on www.sarallying.co.za, and it’s all free for spectators.
KZN’s own Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle, the current SA national S1600 champions, will lead the field away in their ‘blitsvinnig’ Toyota Etios, with plenty of opposition from Ford Fiestas and VW Polos.
On Saturday a regional rally class will join in the fun, where the locals will battle it out for KZN honours and bragging rights. The KZN quad riders will also have their own event, based at the Ellingham stage, so that’s the place to go for maximum entertainment.
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp, send an invite to 061 694 6047
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
