The Toyota Hilux has become the vehicle of choice for privateer entrants in the ABSA South African Off Road Championship with the reliability and durability of the standard vehicle crossing over into the racing derivatives.
During the 2010 season these inherent strengths of the Hilux provided the platform for Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst to take the overall Production Vehicle and Special Production Vehicle Championships.
“Our congratulations go to Chris and Japie. Determination and consistency paid off for them this past season with three wins and two second places in the eight events giving them a clear advantage over their nearest competitors,” says Ferdi de Vos, Toyota’s General Manager, Corporate Public Relations and Motorsport. “The 2010 Off Road Championship was closely contested but Chris and Japie were able to stake their claim to the Championship with one round still to run.
“The privateer pair eventually finished the season 25 points, a full race win, ahead of Hannes Grobler and Hennie ter Stege who also scored their early season points in a Hilux before switching vehicles. This was the first time in more than a decade that a privateer team ended the season as Production Vehicle Champions.
“The Hilux was equally competitive in Classes D and E where the vehicles are closer to showroom specification. Deon Venter and Ian Palmer secured the Class D Championship in their 4X4 Mega World Hilux while Pikkie Labuschagne took the honours for the drivers’ championship in Class E in his RFS-Mega World 4X4 Hilux. Our congratulations go to them as well.”
Toyota’s dominance in the Production Vehicle Class was underlined with two more Hilux wins for Castrol Team Toyota, one win apiece for Duncan Vos/Rob Howie and Anthony Taylor/Robin Houghton. The remaining three events saw the spoils divided amongst BMW, Ford, and Nissan with one win each.
Hilux regulars Christiaan du Plooy, George Barkhuizen, Peter Ruthven and Willem Vos added support for Toyota in the SP class and the success of the Hilux in the lower classes ensured a valuable points haul for the Manufacturers’ Championship in every round. Toyota ended the season with a winning margin of more than 400 points in this championship.
– Credit: Toyota of South Africa.