Top rally privateers Japie van Niekerk and Robin Houghton intend upsetting the S2000 apple-kart when they get to Port Elizabeth for the Volkswagen Rally, which starts on July 23.
Sporting the colours of their new sponsor –vehicle tracking, recovery and fleet management company CTrack – the highly-experienced pair is ready to give their 2010 campaign a timely boost after missing two of the four rounds of the Sasol National Rally Championship so far. They retired from one with technical problems and missed another when property entrepreneur Van Niekerk was laid-low by a flu virus.
“I’m very excited about having CTrack on board in addition to our existing New Africa Developments sponsorship ,” says Van Niekerk, now in his fifth season of national championship rallying. “The services and products CTrack offer the motoring consumer and fleet operator have a natural fit with high-level motorsport and our four-wheel-driver Toyota Auris certainly represents the state-of-the-art, incorporating the latest technology available for competition vehicles.”
The driver/navigator partnership is now in its fourth season and has traditionally fared well on the Eastern Cape event, with a best result of fifth place overall (and first privateer). The pairing also has a third place to its credit, and with the latest spec Auris, prepared in-house at Toyota Motorsport alongside the works cars, the NAD/CTrack team is confident they can run near the front of a classy field.
“Robin is vastly experienced as a navigator and with this car we’re on the pace. CTrack’s presence on the car for the remainder of the season will enable us to continue with research and development work, and enjoy the benefit of any upgrades that become necessary,” concluded Van Niekerk.
About CTrack: CTrack is part of listed telematics company Digicore Holdings LTD and has been a force in the vehicle tracking and fleet management industry since 1985. CTrack offers a comprehensive array of high-technology tracking solutions based on GPS and/or GSM networks, to suit individuals and corporate clients.
– Credit: Supplied.