The South African Rally-Raid Championship heads to Vryheid next weekend for the fifth and penultimate round of the season, where the fight for top honours is expected to reach new levels.

The VAPS HCV Vryheid 400 takes place on October 31 and November 1. According to Charmaine Fortune from the South African Rally-Raid Championship, the event was originally set as the season opener in March, but was postponed after heavy rains and flooding.

This year’s race welcomes new partner VAPS HCV, which will also field two teams. Managing director Abrie Olivier will drive the VAPS HCV Rally-Raid Red-Lined VK50-1, with Iaan Olivier navigating, while marketing manager Peet Victor joins VanZyl Jonck in a similar VK50-2 in the Adventurer Class.

In the same class, Johan de Bruyn and Adriaan Roets (Red-Lined Revo T1) will be chasing a long-awaited victory. Johan and Sean van Staden (Renault Duster) return as contenders, while the Heinlein family brings two Red-Lined VK56s to the field.

All eyes will be on the Ultimate FIA T1+ Class, where four different teams have taken wins so far. Current leaders Saood Variawa and French co-driver Francois Cazalet (Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux IMT EVO) aim to protect their narrow lead after finishing sixth at the recent Rallye du Maroc.

Local favourites Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer (Castrol NWM Ford Rally Raid Evo Plus) are close behind in second and will look to impress in front of home supporters. Previous round winners Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy (#TeamHilux RallyRaid DKR Hilux T1+) and the pairing of Guy Botterill and Oriol Valdearcos (TGR Hilux IMT EVO) also remain in title contention.

The Ultimate T1+ SA Class has been unpredictable, with Namibians Marko Himmel and Francois Schoonbee (Red-Lined Navara Evo) holding a narrow lead over Philip Botha and Andries Mynhardt (Red-Lined Revo T1+) and the Horn brothers, Johan and Werner (#TeamHilux Rally-Raid). Veteran Gary Bertholdt (Toyota Hilux) returns, alongside navigator Philip Herselman, and will be looking for a strong result.

The VAPS HCV Vryheid 400 starts on Friday, October 31, with the 17km Falken Wild Peak Prologue at 09:30 from Vryheid Airfield, which will serve as the start/finish, race headquarters and designated service point. Stage 1 follows at 13:00, with two 183km stages set for the Saturday.

Fortune says, “Spectators can follow the action from various viewing points along the route or track progress via the free RallySafe App.”

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.