All eyes on SASOL Rally
The 23rd edition of the SASOL Rally will be held in and around Nelspruit and Sabie in Mpumalanga on 11 and 12 April 2014 - an event that local Rally driver Jose du Gouveia said is impossible to resist. Commentators describe it as one of the most spectacular challenges in the rally championship that is usually supported by large crowds of rally enthusiasts.
“I’ve been out of rallying for a while now. But for some reason I can’t quit. The thrill, adrenalin and excitement is impossible to resist,” said Du Gouveia.
He admitted that it was only last Tuesday that he decided to enter. He had no car, no navigator and no support team.
But just seven days later and a new car was built, he secured the services of a navigator, Mari Ducasse of Mountain View in Pretoria, and a small but experienced support team has been put together.
At just 20 years of age, Ducasse completed the full season of Northern Regions Rallying in 2013 and won the S1 co-drivers class championship for the year. She said this week that it was an amazing opportunity to navigate for Jose for the 2014 SASOL Rally.
“Everyone’s warning me that he’s a mad man, so I reckon that we’ll be a team to watch this weekend!”, she quipped.
• Willie van Straaten, who finished second in Class 1600 at the Tour Natal rally and 9th overall to obtain a career best, was also busy this week at finalizing preparations.
Early on Wednesday morning he was already on his way to Sabie. Van Straaten focused more on strategy rather than speed at the Tour Natal, and is expected to continue the main goal of collecting points and avoiding unnecessary risks to ensure a finish.
• Leeroy Poulter and co-driver Elvéne Coetzee won the opening round of the South African National Rally Championship in Durban earlier this year, and expectations are high for the pairing to maintain the perfect start as they will be aiming for nothing less than a podium finish.
“I’ve always looked forward to taking part in the SASOL Rally. I enjoy the fast forest tracks, and really hope to build on what we have achieved in Natal,” stated Poulter on the RallyWorld web site – where spectator guides can also be found.
The 2014 SASOL Rally gets under way at 10:00 on Friday, April 11, at the Sabie town square. There are seven stages on Friday, with seven more on Saturday, bringing the total race distance to 202 km. The rally concludes at the show grounds in Nelspruit at 15:50 on Saturday, April 12.
