Podium finish for SA Earthworks
MIDRAND - Nic van der Westhuizen and Stefan Cilliers of Midrand's SA Earthworks team overcame atrocious weather conditions to end their national rally season on a high note.
The pair claimed the final step on the podium on the Garden Route Rally.
In spite of dire rain warnings, the SA Earthworks Toyota Auris pair, competing in the S2000 Challenge class, settled into a fast rhythm, posting consecutive top 10 stage times. Van der Westhuizen netted the ninth fastest time in stage three to hold ninth overall and fourth in his class.
However, disaster struck in stage four. The roads were rough and rocky after the earlier first run and Van der Westhuizen picked up a puncture, forcing a stop to change the wheel, causing him to lose six minutes. The team recorded the second-slowest time, dropping to 11th in the overall standings.
The final stage saw the SA Earthworks car record the 11th best time as a result of a malfunctioning front differential.
Heavy rain caused the windscreen of the Auris to mist up, blinding the driver, who set the 12th fastest time – a heroic effort considering the circumstances.
The rally organisers were forced to cancel the remaining six stages due to flooding along the route, leaving Van der Westhuizen to rue what could have been.
Looking back at the season, Van der Westhuizen is satisfied with the team’s progress. “We only had about six trouble-free stages all year. This is my third season in rallying, my first in [the] S2000 Challenge and it’s Stefan’s first season as well. We got faster as the year progressed and when we had clean stages, we were competitive.”
Team patron Danie van der Westhuizen and co-driver Tommy Coetzee brought the SA Earthworks Ford Fiesta R2 home in eighth place from a field of 14 starters.
The SA Earthworks rally team has big plans to move up the running order in 2014 in both Super 2000 and Super 1600 classes.
The team acknowledged their associate sponsors Construction Tyres and High Power Equipment.
