Competitors are gearing up to take on the INGCO Parys 400 and the INGCO Vaal 400, Rounds Four and Five of the SA Rally-Raid Championship that will take place over two consecutive days on Friday, 16 and Saturday, 17 August in the Parys area in the Free State. With the season now at the halfway mark, this weekend will be a true test of precision, planning and strategy for teams to capitalise on maximum points towards the overall and class championships during a weekend that will be packed with adrenaline-pumping racing action.
Both events sponsored by INGCO, the supplier of an extensive selection of power tools, hand tools and accessories designed to meet the needs of professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike, will feature the INGCO Parys 400 and the INGCO Vaal 400. The Parys 400 on Friday will comprise a short Castrol Qualifying Race followed by a racing section of approximately 350 kilometres, while Saturday’s event the Vaal 400, the longer of the two routes, will cover approximately 425 racing kilometres including the short qualifying race. It will certainly be a busy two days for drivers, navigators and technical crew in the FIA Ultimate T1+, Adventurer T1, Challenger and SSV classes, while spectators and followers will be entertained with top class racing action.
The Race Headquarters as well as the Designated Service Park (DSP) for both events will be situated at Stonehenge River Lodge on the banks of the Vaal River, a mere 110 kilometres from Johannesburg. Most of the racing action will, however, take competitors and spectators to the Parys area and although sections of the race routes will have a familiar look about them, teams can expect some stern challenges.
Looking back at the events so far this season, teams and their race vehicles have been thoroughly tested on tight and technical routes, and although the routes for the INGCO Parys 400 and the INGCO Vaal 400 will present competitors with a fair share of technical sections, their high-speed abilities will also come into play.
For the INGCO Parys 400 on Friday, 16 August the ceremonial start of the short Castrol Qualifying Race will be at 07:30 with the results determining the starting positions for Stage One, when the leading vehicle will take on the 175-kilometre stage at 09:45. Teams will stop for a compulsory 30-minute de-control at the DSP at Stonehenge River Lodge, before starting Stage Two in the order they finished Stage One.
The race will finish at Stonehenge River Lodge where the podium ceremonies will take place.
Service teams will hope for race vehicles to be in a good state, but a busy afternoon and a long night is possible, as they prepare for the proceedings on Saturday, 17 August. Teams will need to be ready to take on the Castrol Qualifying Race from 07:30 that determines the starting order for Stage One of approximately 214 kilometres. Before embarking on the same section for Stage Two. The compulsory 30-minute service halt at DSP will signal the final racing section of the weekend, and the sprint to the finish and podium ceremony at Stonehenge River Lodge.
Two days and almost 800 kilometres of thrilling racing action with the goal to finish in the best possible position and to score maximum points towards the standings, will guarantee spectators and followers a race weekend filled with world class Rally-Raid action. Add to that the opportunity to meet the racing heroes and view these awesome race vehicles from up close, the INGCO Parys 400 and Vaal 400 on 16 and 17 August are two SA Rally-Raid events not to be missed.
The race can also be followed on the RallySafe App, available as a free download from the iStore and Google PlayStore or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarallyraidchampionship;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarallyraidchampionship/ and Twitter: @SACCS.Auto
Published by: SA Rally-Raid Championship
Photography by: Dave Ledbitter
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