National and regional competitors will be playing for high stakes on the Atlas Copco 400 in KwaZulu-Natal on 20 and 21 May, Round Three of the Absa South African Off-Road Racing Championship and will be run in conjunction with the third round of the KwaZulu-Natal regional championship.
The season has reached a stage where some competitors in the Production and Special Vehicle categories will be looking to consolidate good starts, while others will be playing a catch-up game. Added interest comes by way of switching the event from Eston, on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg, to Dundee.
“The switch levels the playing field, and competitors are in the dark as to what to expect from the route and prevailing conditions,” said SANORA chairman Richard Schilling. “It adds that extra edge of uncertainty to the event.”
On the Production Vehicle category front, Nissan crews head the overall and premier SP Class championships for the first time since the demise of the Nissan factory team. Thomas Rundle and former South African champion Juan Mohr head the standings with Toyota Dealer 400 winners Mike Whitehouse/Matthew Carlson (Regent Racing Nissan Navara), second on the log.
There is also pressure on the factory Team Castrol Toyota Hilux and Ford Racing Ranger teams. Privateers took the major share of victories last season, and this time around privateer teams have won both opening events.
In the Special Vehicle category, reigning champions Kallie and Quintin Sullwald (Elegant Fuel BAT) have opened a comfortable early lead in the overall and Class A championships. Those doing the chasing will be desperate to stop the Phalaborwa-based father-and-son team from stretching their lead.
Race headquarters, the start/finish and designated service point (DSP) will all be located at the Battlefields Lodge outside Dundee. The Donaldson Prologue to determine grid position for the race will start at 12h00 on Friday 20 May with the start of the race at 08h30 on Saturday 21 May.