Shameer Variawa and Siegfried Rousseau (Total Porter) have two important objectives in this weekend’s Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race, which takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – extend their six-point lead in the Absa South African Off Road Championship for special vehicles and win their third successive Desert Race.
Two victories (in the season-opening Adenco 400 in the Western Cape and the Atlas Copco Sugarbelt 400 in May) had set the Total-backed pair up nicely for a strong run at the championship title that Variawa last won in 2000 (he was the youngest ever winner). But a broken gear selector forced them out of the recent 4×4 Megaworld 400 in Gauteng and reduced their 18-point lead.
Now just nine points covers the top three contenders with the Total Porter pair six ahead of 2008 champions Kallie and Quintin Sullwald and nine clear of Johan van Staden and James Rossouw.
Variawa, who owns a biscuit factory in Gauteng that produces three tons of biscuits an hour for the informal sector, was brought up in Botswana and as a small boy he dreamed of competing in and winning the Desert Race.
“I tried for 16 years and had to be satisfied with seconds and thirds before I finally realised my childhood dream in 2008 on the same day my second son was born,” says a proud Variawa. “Siegfried and I managed to repeat the achievement last year and now we’re hoping to become only the second team to make it three in a row on the longest and toughest off road race in the South African championship.” Father and son Franz Czepek senior and junior won the race in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
“We’re under a bit of pressure now after our problems in the last race, but we’re confident we can pull it off again. This is my favourite event and the challenge and the atmosphere and the enthusiastic support of the Botswana fans make it very special.
“Total has been supporting me for the past six years, so it will be a nice way to say ‘thank you’ if we can give them another Desert Race victory.”