TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) is gearing up for an intense and action-packed weekend as the team prepares to compete in the fourth and fifth rounds of the 2024 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC). The INGCO Parys 400 and the INGCO Vaal 400 will take place on consecutive days, 16 and 17 August respectively, in what promises to be a thrilling double-header event.
With the championship now reaching its halfway mark, the pressure is mounting on all teams. TGRSA’s Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings currently lead the overall standings, having secured victories in the last two rounds. Their consistency and pace have seen them pull ahead, but with double points on offer this weekend, they will be looking to extend their lead and strengthen their championship bid.
Their teammates, Giniel de Villiers and Elvéne Vonk, who sit second in the standings, will be aiming for a strong result to close the gap to the leaders. De Villiers and Vonk have faced their share of challenges this season, but their resilience has kept them in the championship hunt.
Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy, currently fourth in the standings, have shown great potential this season with two runner-up finishes. After a challenging start to the season, they will be determined to secure their first win of the year and climb the standings.
Young star Saood Variawa and his French navigator, Francois Cazalet, have demonstrated good pace in their Toyota Hilux IMT EVO but have been hampered by mechanical issues in previous rounds. They will be eager to put those troubles behind them and deliver a solid performance across both days.
The INGCO Parys 400 and INGCO Vaal 400 will consist of a short Castrol Qualifying Race early in the day to determine the starting order, followed by approximately 400 kilometres of racing sections on each day. With valuable points on offer towards the overall and class championships, the stakes are high, and every second will count.
TGRSA Team Principal Shameer Variawa commented, “This double-header event is a critical moment in the championship. With double points available, it’s a fantastic opportunity for our teams to solidify their positions. We’ve had a strong season so far, and our crews are ready for the challenge. We know the competition will be fierce, but we are confident in our team’s abilities to deliver strong results.”
Current Championship Standings:
| 1. | Henk Lategan | 75 points |
| 2. | Giniel de Villiers | 59 points |
| 3. | Lance Woolridge | 52 points |
| 4. | Guy Botterill | 51 points |
| 5. | Fouché Blignaut | 45 points |
| 6. | Johan Horn | 34 points |
| 7. | Gareth Woolridge | 35 points |
| 8. | Brian Baragwanath | 31 points |
| 9. | Johan de Bruyn | 27 points |
| 10. | Gerhard Heinlein | 26 points |
Fans are reminded that the action can be followed live via the RallySafe app, available as a free download from the Apple App Store and Google PlayStore. The start and finish of both races, as well as Race Headquarters and the Designated Service Point (DSP), will be at Stonehenge River Lodge.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa is excited to take on this critical double-header and looks forward to continuing their strong performance in the SARRC.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa Acknowledges Its Sponsors
Toyota enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Toyota Financial Services, Innovation Group Services and Kinto.
Published by: Karabo Sethusha
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