The Barden Tyre Services Racing team of Thomas Rundle and Juan Mohr (Nissan Navara) once again found themselves in the lead of a national championship off road race only to be frustrated by a technical problem that saw them forced out of the event.
This time it was the Absa SA Off Road Car Championship’s inaugural Human Auto 400 in the Free State, which took place on Friday and Saturday in the Bloemfontein area. The Barden Tyre Services pair got their weekend off to the almost perfect start with an excellent second place in Friday’s 66-km prologue, crossing the line at the Windmill Casino outside Bloemfontein just four seconds behind the factory Toyota Hilux of Anthony Taylor and Robin Houghton.
“Friday’s time trial could have been even better,” said Rundle. “I turned right at a T-junction instead of left and, although I immediately realised my mistake, we lost about 15 seconds turning around. We were nevertheless very happy with the result, although we found ourselves in overall 13th position for Saturday’s start in the combined production and special vehicle field.
“The dust from all the vehicles in front of us was a big problem early in the first of the race’s two 180-km loops, but we pushed hard and the car responded well. We passed Taylor and Houghton within the first 60 km or so when they stopped to replace a flat wheel. We were comfortable with our pace and confident we could maintain the lead if we avoided any problems, but then the gearbox broke and that was that.”
“This has been a particularly frustrating season for the team,” said Rundle. “We have a great car and have shown that we can race with the best of them in the production vehicle category. With just one more round of the championship remaining (the RFS Magalies 400 in Gauteng on November 19 and 20) we’re determined to end the season on a positive note.”
While Barden Tyre Services is the principal sponsor, the team also enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with other partners and suppliers like Dunlop tyres, Autozone, Hausberger and Associates, Maxwell Design and Advertising, Willard batteries and Cedar Chem.
– Credit: Peter Burroughes Communications.