VW announces strong works team for SA rallies

Youngster Henk Lategan will lead the team in a VW Polo S2000, with veteran co-driver Pierre Arries in the navigator seat.

Barry White, who played an important part in Lategan’s rapid growth as a rally racer last year, will play a non-competitive role with the team this season.

Team stalwarts Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin will be in one of the team’s S2000 cars, moving up from the S2000 Challenge slot.

Zulu has long contended for a place in the top of local rallying. His debut in the category will be closely watched by his many fans.

The 2014 season will also see the return of Hans Weijs and Björn Degandt who contested the 2012 season with the team.

Weijs and Degandt will resume their competitive role with the team for the season, travelling to South Africa for each round.

“Hans and Björn were very competitive… on unfamiliar territory and ended their year with us winning the Garden Route Rally,” said Volkswagen’s motorsport boss Mike Rowe.

They helped to gain the local rally championship a lot of attention from Europe during the

2012 season, he said. They would boost Volkswagen’s local profile and “add diversity and interest to our championship.”

Volkswagen will assist several privateer teams this season.

Youngsters Thilo Himmel and Armand du Toit will be in a S2000 Challenge Volkswagen Polo.

Other rising talents Chad van Beurden, Marco Himmel, Paulus Franken and AC Potgieter will be be driving VW Polos in the S1600 class.