The first five stages on day one of the Toyota Gauteng Dealer Rally that takes place next weekend will be a major challenge. Enzo Kuun, the current championship log leader for the Sasol SA National Rally Drivers title, who campaigns in a BP VW Racing Polo, said that the first day will be an all-out tar rally. “The major problem”, he said, “was the fact that they would have to take on the tar stages with a car that has been set up for gravel and with tyres that are not quite suited for tar rallying.
“We have two homologated cars. One that has been set up for tar rallying and one for gravel. Some of our competition is not in the same fortunate position, but in the spirit of sportsmanship we have decided that we will use our cars that are more suited for rallying on gravel”, Kuun said. On the second day, when six gravel stages will be run around the Bapsfontein area with the Rallystar Motorsport Academy as the rally headquarters, it will be a different story, according to Kuun.
As regards his preparation for his effort to win his second SA Rally Drivers title, Kuun said that he had done all of the hard work during the season. “We have had a very good season in the BP VW Polo. I am really very fortunate that Volkswagen gave us such a good and reliable car to compete in this year.”
Kuun and his navigator, Guy Hodgson, who has already won the SA National Navigators title on the Swartland rally three weeks ago, will start the rally with a 21 point advantage over their nearest rivals, the Castrol Toyota Auris team of Johnny Gemmel/Drew Sturrock. “Gemmel and Sturrock will have to win the rally to win the championship,” Kuun said, “but I don’t have to take any chances and just ensure that I consolidate my position.
“I can even finish in 17th position overall and still win the championship”, he said, “but we will have to still keep our heads together and drive at a comfortable pace”, he added.
The Toyota Gauteng Dealer Rally is the final round of the 2010 Sasol SA National Rally Championship and will be held at Gerotek in Pretoria next Friday and around Bapsfontein the next day. The event will consist of twelve special stages comprising 166km and is being organized by a committee of the Pretoria Motor Club with Jeremy du Plessis as Clerk of the Course.
– Credit: Motorpics.