Cross Country series back on the dirt in Bothaville

Event will serve as rounds four and five of the national championship.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (Gazoo Racing Toyota Hilux) could spray champagne after both of the weekend’s 4×4 Mega World 400 races at Nampo Park outside Bothaville, Picture: Nadia Jordaan.

After a long Covid-19 enforced break, the 2021 South African Cross Country Series will resume this weekend, with rounds four and five of the championship, the 4×4 Mega World 400 at Nampo Park outside Bothaville in the Free State.

Topping the Production Vehicle category will be the Gazoo Racing Toyota Hilux crews of Giniel de Villiers/Dennis Murphy and Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings.

Taking them on will be a wide and diverse entry of 20 FIA category cars, led by the Lance Woolridge/Elvéne Vonk (Ford Castrol Ranger), the Brian Baragwanath/ Leonard Cremer Century Racing CR6, Chris Visser/Albertus Venter (Toyota Hilux), Ford Castrol Range of Gareth Woolridge/Boyd Dreyer and the third Gazoo Racing Toyota Hilux of Shameer Variawa/Danie Stassen.

Red-Lined Motorsport will field four teams, led by Conrad Rautenbach/Riaan Greyling in the all-new Red-Lined REVO. Also in the team will be Thomas Bell/ Bruno Jacomy, Philip Botha/Roelof Janse van Vuren and Eben Basson/ Gerhard Schutte, all in Red Lined Nissan Navaras.

Others to watch must include Ernest Roberts/Henry Köhne (Century Racing CR6), Mark Corbett/ Rodney Burk (CR6), Dewald van Breda/Johann du Toit (CR5), Gary Bertholdt/Siegfried Rousseau (Toyota Hilux), Jason Venter/Jaco van Aardt (4×4 Mega World Toyota Hilux) and Johan/Sean van Staden (Moto-Netix Renault Duster).

24 hours in pictures, 19 April 2024

Leading Class T will be Malcolm/ Frans Kock (NWM Ford Ranger), challenged by teams like Johan/ Werner Horn (Malalane Toyota Hilux), Wors Prinsloo/André Vermeulen (Toyota Hilux) and Christo Rose/Arno Olivier, (NWM Ford Ranger).

Heading up the Special Vehicle category will be topped by Lance Trethewey/Adriaan Roets (King Price Xtreme Porter), facing off against Boela Botes/Jay Pretorius (King Price Porter), Lood du Preez/Tiaan Swart (Farmers Meat Stryker) and Sandra/Jaco Labuschagne-Jonck (Moto-Netix KEC BAT Viper)

Victory favourites in Class G will be the Larney brothers, Cecil and Elardus (Ride Fox Africa Can-Am Maverick), are now leading Class G and are third in the overall standings after winning the recent Toyota Gazoo 1 000 Desert Race in Upington.

Werner/Leon Mostert (King Price Xtreme Can-Am) lead Class G for SideXSide vehicles, challenged by Kent Rutherford/Kabelo Mokanyane (Enza Construction Can-Am ), Bazil Bezuidenhout/Rikus Hattingh Moto-Netix Can-Am) and Geoff Minnitt/Gerhard Snyman (Can-Am Maverick).

On Friday, the 4×4 Mega World 400 will start with a 15 km Pirelli Qualifying Race sprint to determine the starting order for the main race that will start at 9:30 am. Then competitors will tackle a 180 km loop towards the east of Nampo Park twice, in round four of the title chase.

The fifth round of the championship on Saturday, 2 October will start with a 15 km sprint, followed by the main race over 360 km towards the west of Nampo Park.

Due to Covid-19 19 restrictions, spectators are not allowed at the event. Enthusiasts can follow the action on the RallySafe App that can be downloaded free of charge for iOS and Android devices..