See SA’s best in motorsport in action at Dullstroom next weekend

Johan and Werner Horn will send dust flying in their Malalane Toyota Hilux when they face some of SA’s top motorsport competitors at the Mpumalanga 400 in Dullstroom next weekend.

The duo will support Toyota Gazoo Racing and are determined to get back their Class T crown this year.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing team hope to continue their success on March 15 and 16, following their first-ever win at the Dakar Rally.

During this opening round of the South African Cross Country Championship (SACCS), the team’s Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy, as well as Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, will race in Class FIA Toyota Hilux race vehicles, the same version that won the Dakar.

According to Toyota Gazoo Racing SA team principal, Glyn Hall, they will work on refining their Hilux for the Dakar 2020. “There’s still more development to be done, and we know the competition won’t be sitting on their hands during the year either,” he said.

The Mpumalanga 400 is organised by Malalane Toyota and they expect more than 1 000 visitors to visit Dullstroom during the two-day event.

It won event of the year last year and staff are working hard to repeat their success.

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According to Johan Horn Sr, it is a community effort and boosted the Dullstroom economy by around R4,5 million last year.

Malalane Toyota is supported by Barloworld Toyota Middelburg, Lydenburg Toyota and McGee Ford Lydenburg. As part of the Thuma Mina community project, the dealerships will donate 200 pairs of school shoes to local children on March 15.

The kids will also be treated to goodie bags and food while competitors complete the 45-kilometre qualifying race. This starts at 13:30 and will determine the grid positions for the main race.

Competitors will set off early on Saturday morning to complete two loops of a 180-kilometre racing course. The route winds through Dullstroom and its surrounds. Horn Sr thanked all of the landowners who graciously allowed them the use of their land.

Entry will be free for spectators and the stadium section close to town will give them a great view of the action. There will also be several other viewing points.

By downloading the RallySafe app, spectators can follow their favourites in real-time. The Malalane Toyota Facebook page will also feature regular updates throughout the event.

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The Village Green Cricket Oval will be the heart of the event and Malalane Toyota spent weeks ensuring it is in top condition. The organisers sourced as much as they could locally and trained locals to work as marshals during the event.

To ensure the area is kept pristine, Malalane Toyota and Total SA will donate several rubbish bins to the town.

For more information on the event, visit www.malalanetoyota.co.za or sacrosscountryracing.co.za.