Ballito’s Benjamin Habig and Barry White rocketed to a double victory in Ermelo to take control of the South African Rally Championship.

Competing over two races last Friday and Saturday, teams faced hot, dusty conditions in the Mpumalanga town.

Habig and White acclimatised quickly in their VW Polo 4WD NR1, dominating day one with six stage wins out of six to finish almost two minutes ahead of Paul van Niekerk and Willemjan Human.

Fellow Ballito racers Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle, who compete full-time in the separate South African Rally Raid Championship, also joined in the Ermelo action, finishing fifth on day one.

Day two proved more competitive for Habig and White, who traded individual stage wins with the team of Jono van Wyk and Nico Swartz – their closest rivals in the overall championship standings. Consistency proved key, however, and Habig and White’s four stage wins, four second-place finishes and one third were enough to leave them 14 seconds ahead of the chasing pack.

Botterill and Vacy-Lyle finished third on day two and second overall in the Ermelo standings.

“Barry and I are elated with the double podium,” said Habig.

“My dad, multiple SA Rally Champion Jan Habig, prepared a very competitive, reliable car, built in Shaka’s Head. Development continues as we gear up for Rounds 7 and 8 in Fouriesburg.”

Following an opening weekend win in Tzaneen, Habig and White have now won three of the six rallies, with Van Wyk and Swartz claiming the rest. Momentum is with the Ballito pair, however, with four races remaining in Fouriesburg and Dullstroom over the next two months.

Find full results at nrcsa.co.za.

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