Ballito’s Benjamin Habig becomes youngest SA rally champion since 1960
Alongside navigator Barry White, the pair won four of the eight rounds in this year's championships.
Ballito’s Benjamin Habig fulfilled a family legacy when he claimed his first South African Rally Championship title last weekend.
Benjamin became the youngest champion since 1960, following in the footsteps of his father Jan Habig, who won six national titles between 1997 and 2007.
Alongside navigator Barry White, Benjamin sealed the title in their 4WD Volkswagen Polo over two days in Mpumalanga. The pair finished second in round 7 of the TracN4 Dullstroom Rally in pouring rain last Friday and followed it up with a win in the final round 8 on Saturday.
“Barry had calculated the various point scenarios and we knew that even if Jono van Wyk and Nico Swartz won both days, we had to finish fourth or better in both rounds,” said Benjamin.
Friday’s downpour turned the course into a test of skill and composure.
“Lots of rain saw the roads being extremely slippery and muddy with big water puddles, so our goal was to keep it tidy, stay on the road and finish the day,” he said.
“It is always a calculated risk, you’re tempted to push harder, but we had to focus on the bigger picture.”
The pair claimed two stages on Friday to take second place by just 1.5 seconds, maintaining their title advantage. Under clearer skies on Saturday, they dominated, winning six stages and taking round 8 by more than three minutes.
It was their fourth round win of the campaign, following earlier victories in Tzaneen and back-to-back wins in Ermelo. Their consistent performance secured a comfortable points lead over Van Wyk.
“Unfortunately, Jono and Nico were forced to retire, but it’s been a tremendous year of rallying, with the championship lead changing hands a few times,” said Benjamin.
“Barry has been the perfect navigator, and we are elated to be the 2025 SA Rally Champions! My sincerest appreciation to my dad for building a state-of-the-art car and giving us the best equipment to compete.”
Full results are available at nrcsa.co.za.
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