Gary Bertholdt and Andre Vermeulen (Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux) travel to Carnival City on the East Rand to take part in the fifth round of the Absa Off Road Car Championship, the 4×4 Mega World 400, on Friday and Saturday (August 27 and 28).
“We’re just into the second half of the championship and there’s still everything to play for,” said Bertholdt. “Andre and I have had a bit of a hot and cold season so far, with two non-finishes and two second places.
“Although we’re lying sixth in the Special Vehicle category of the championship with 38 points, 21 behind the current leaders, with 25 points for a win and four rounds remaining we’re still in with a realistic chance. We have a great car in the Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux and overcame a lot of obstacles to finish a very close second at Sun City (just 23 seconds after 400 km of racing).
“We’re due a bit of luck and if we can have a clean run we know we have the pace and endurance to be the first at the finish at Carnival City on Saturday afternoon.”
Also racing in the distinctive light blue colours of Atlas Copco and lying an impressive second overall in the Special Vehicle category are Johan van Staden and James Rossouw in a class P BAT Spec 2. They made history earlier in the season by becoming the first class P crew to win an event overall, in the Toyota Dealer 400. They have a comfortable 19-point lead in class P.
The father and son combination of Nick and Ryan Harper are reunited in their class A Atlas Copco BAT Spec 4 at Carnival City. Ryan missed out on the last event when Kevin Hume substituted and he will be hoping to accompany his father to a fourth successive scoring result. Nick is currently fourth in the championship with 30 points, 39 behind the leader, while Ryan has dropped back to seventh after missing out on the 12 points his father and Hume scored with a fourth place finish at the recent Sun City 400.
Former national rally star Etienne Lourens replaces Bertholdt patriarch Bodo in the other class P Atlas Copco BAT and will be partnered by regular co-driver Phillip Herselman.
– Credit: Peter Burroughes Communications.