RUSTENBURG HERALD - SUN CITY - With its rich history in rally-raid development and competitive success, South Africa will be hosting the world championship it helped shape, and the entry list for the first World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) event to be held in Southern Africa reflects the occasion.
The South African Safari Rally, brought to you by Toyota Gazoo Racing, forms Round 3 of this year’s W2RC calendar, and takes place from the Sun City Resort in North West Province from 18-24 May.
In the FIA car category, the Ultimate class brings together a veritable who’s who of off-road royalty. Nasser Al-Attiyah and Sébastien Loeb spearhead the formidable effort from The Dacia Sandriders. Al-Attiyah is the reigning W2RC champion, the winner of the previous round at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the current championship leader along with navigator Edouard Boulanger. Team-mate Loeb is a multiple World Rally champion and regular podium finisher in the rally-raid series, and is a formidable contender for the win with Fabian Lurquin in the navigator’s seat.
In the FIM’s top RallyGP motorcycle category, the Austrian Red Bull KTM team is hoping to make it three in a row at the South African Safari Rally, as Daniel Sanders won both the opening race at the Dakar Rally and Round 2 in Abu Dhabi. He will be joined by team-mate Luciano Benavides on the second KTM 450 Rally.
In the Quad category Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge winner Antanas Kanopkinas leads the charge on his CFMOTO Thunder Racing machine, and will be joined by the previous round’s other podium finishers, team-mate Gaetan Martinez, and Marek Loj on a Yamaha Raptor 700. South African Carien Teessen is the fourth contender on another Yamaha Raptor 700.
The South African Safari Rally offers a diverse and demanding route, specifically designed to showcase the natural beauty and technical challenge of Southern Africa. All stages begin and end at Sun City, except for the Marathon Stage, which includes an overnight at a remote bivouac near Stella. Here, competitors must service their own vehicles – without outside support.
