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By Andre De Kock

Motorsport Correspondent


Cross Country Series returning to action in October

Two loops of 180 km will be preceded by a 15 km sprint to determine the final starting grid.


After a break of three months, the 2021 South African Cross Country Championship will resume on 1 and 2 October with the 4×4 Mega World 400, to form the fourth and fifth rounds of the championship.

The event will take place from Nampo Park in the Bothaville area of the Free State. The annual Nampo Show had to be postponed for the second consecutive year due to Covid-19, but like last year, Nampo Park will host national off road racing.

This race was voted the Best Event of the Year in 2020 and teams can look forward to more of the same around Bothaville during two one-day races.
 
The two events will present a proper challenge for competitors with a different loop for each of the two rounds of the series. Race Headquarters, the Designated Service Park and the Start/Finish on both days will be at Nampo Park.
 
On Friday, 1 October the 4×4 Mega World 400 will start with a short Pirelli Qualifying Race at 7:30 am from Nampo Park. The 15 km sprint will determine the starting order for the main race, round four of the series, which will start at 9:30 am.
 
The main race will comprise a loop of approximately 180 kilometres east of Nampo Park and competitors will have to complete the loop twice. The loop will include fast open sections with a mix of technical areas around an old pan, an unused coal power station and old mine dumps that are now covered in grass.

Competitors will return to the DSP at Nampo Park for a 30-minute compulsory service halt, before heading out to complete the loop again.

Teams will be tested over technical and tight sections that include a spectacular Super Special set in a field of irrigation pivots. The route has a mix of bush, soft sand and open sections.
 
In keeping with Covid-19 regulations, no spectators will not be allowed at Nampo Park and the DSP. Enthusiasts will be able to follow the event on the RallySafe App, sponsored by Toyota, that can be downloaded free of charge from the Google Play Store or the App Store.

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