Article written by Patrick Vermaak.
Jean-Pierre Damseaux and Cobus Vrey expectedly found themselves in an unchallenged first position overall on the opening round of the 2011 Western Cape Rally Championship when they totally dominated the Tata Dealers / Kwikfit Bredasdorp Rally on Saturday 12 February 2011 in the Team Total S2000 / S5 SWMC Toyota Run X 4×4.
Traditionally the shakedown for the national rally campaign they treated this event as a full blown attack on the S2000 challenge and the Team Total Run X provided a fantastic spectacle to the appreciative audience present in the Overberg. For reasons that will become apparent soon Cobus will be replaced by Carolyn Swan once teams reach Kwa-Zulu Natal in March but expect the “new” Run X to be much more competitive.
Ashley Haigh-Smith had Cindi Harding calling the notes in Bredasdorp and slowly dialled in the pace to finish second overall by a solitary second, second fastest on three of the eight stages. The world’s only right hand drive M-Sport class A6/S3 CPMCC Ford Fiesta R2 1600 did not miss a beat and this car will undoubtedly be a serious challenger for the national 1600 crown and it certainly looks the part on the road too!
Sebastiaan Klaasen had Kesevan Naidoo step in as navigator in the Vuurwerk Gp N4 / S5 CPMCC Subaru Impreza WRX 4×4 Turbo and they clearly understood each other from the word go as consistent times saw them second fastest on three stages and third overall could so easily have been second – just one second separating the Ford and Scooby after eight special stages. A positive start after a disastrous 2010 and they too could become a factor on the national scene.
John Peiser and Craig Gray made their debut as team in the older Gp N4 / S5 WPMC Subaru Impreza GT 4×4 Turbo and fourth overall was another positive result despite the fact that this was the first time since 2007 that John had finished an event off the podium.
Clinton and Keenan Sassman possibly delivering the performance of the rally by placing their E30 S4 CCMCC BMW 325i fifth overall to deservedly record their best ever result. This very popular father and son combination have really been trying hard and somehow the package would never click. Hopefully this will be the turning point and given their performance the Chris Truter Trophy might well see a new challenger.
Paul-Hendrik Franken and Uwe Pey another combination to draw attention on their debut in the ex-Mike Nathan Motors A6 / S3 WBMK Toyota Corolla RXi 1600. The Gansbaai youngster impressive with a mature drive to sixth overall and clearly learning more with each stage.
Steven White and Patrick Vermaak literally had the “Yellow Submarine” floating towards another seventh position overall as the REACT Marketing Gp N2 / S2 CPMCC Mitsubishi Lancer GT 1600 ran out of rear shock absorbers from SS 1. Every rough section became a challenge and each landing a lucky dip but as always this small car with the big heart stuck it out!
Divan de Goede and Henry Köhne returned in their Gp N2 / S3 CPMCC Toyota Corolla RXi 1600 but found the new engine down on power, settling for eighth place finish. Another young combination learning with every outing. Shaun Jones needs no introduction as a very determined driver but he too had a new navigator, Mark Avice du Ruissni, in the S4 CPMCC VW Polo TDi. Ninth another heartening result and hopefully this combination will be present at every event. But, it might be in another BMW E46 325i.
Gavin Grierson and Paul van Greunen enjoyed an early season run in their S4 CCMCC Nissan Skyline 2.8 GTX and were well pleased with tenth overall. Elevnth overall and first in S1 / A5 went to another new combination in the form of Benjamin Johnson and Christoff Löttering in their ex-Gugulethu Zulu VW Golf Chico 1.4i.
Those with the longer memory will remember the familiar sight of the ostrich feather that identified the class D VW Golf CSL 1600 of Oudtshoorn based Mark Johnson and Henk Versnell many moons ago. Well, it would seem that young Benjamin will keep that memory alive with pride! With almost no experience behind them this combination had one spin to keep their intentions in check but what a positive start to the regional championship with so many young talents present.
André George and George du Toit simply could not get the Junior championship winning Flying Fridge A6 / S3 CCMCC Toyota Conquest RSi 1600 to fly this weekend and had to accept a frustrating twelfth overall. Justin and Brian Hoskins filling thirteenth spot in their S1 / A5 VW Golf Chico 1.4i and as the final finishers on the event they also received the Maytham wooden spoons.
Thorsten Pey and Mark Palmer started the event in their 2010 Senior Championship S4 WBMK BMW E46 325i and really impressed by running second overall after the first loop of four stages. Pushing hard to retain second spot the combination then crashed heavily when a tie-rod snapped in a tricky third gear corner. Fortunately the crew emerged unscathed but this really was the last event for the faithful Winning Business Solutions / Forsdicks Tyger Valley Beemer.
Charl Strydom and Sakkie Bosman another team to suffer misfortune when their Sabre Paints A6 / S3 CPMCC VW Polo 1600 retired with a blown gearbox after just three special stages. Winston Neethling and Garth Ritsch shed some weight from their S5 Nissan Sentra 4×4 by attacking a fence with the rear end before finally retiring as a result of engine maladies.
Michael Ramshaw and Tinus Claassen did not have the dream debut everyone hopes for either. Their Gp N2 / A6 Toyota Corolla RXi 1600 cried enough early in SS1 one only for the crew to discover that it was simply the coil wire which had come undone. More serious engine maladies would however see this new combination retire on SS3.
Most encouraging was the fact that the combination of the Tata Dealers Western Province (Dan Esterhuyse) and Kwikfit Bredasdorp (Anton and Jurgen Lesch) had certainly provided the Witzenberg Motorklub the opportunity to raise the standards and just the quality of the silverware was impressive. Providing Tata vehicles to fulfil the various official tasks during the event provided great exposure to the sponsor and looked very professional. Starting and finishing at Kwikfit with prizegiving at the Buzz Bar another winner. Laureen Newman (Manageress Tata Tygerberg) stating that we might even see a Tata rally car present soon.
Bredasdorp requires marshals to cover quite a distance to spend the day standing in the dust and sun for the benefit of the competitors and these individuals deserve a great big THANK YOU. The Radio Marshals and Medics are rarely seen but just knowing you are there puts competitors at ease whilst the friendly face of the scorer, Brian King, is always a great asset to every event!
Johann and Petra Zulch (00), Martin and Brendan Esterhuyse (0), Lance and Rosemarie Maytham (Follow-Up) and Theo Croy (Arrowing) did a sterling job on the route. That is until John Peiser removed the stakes and Steven White managed to gift wrap the Lancer on SS8!
