Conrad Rautenbach and Nicolas Klinger snatched a dramatic 2.5 seconds win on the penultimate stage of the 3rd round of the SA Rally Championship, ending a thrilling contest in the Mpumulanga Highveld region, extending their overall lead in the title chase to 18 points.
The privateer G-Fuel Ford Fiesta S2000 pair blasted through the 17.3km 10th stage 12.7 seconds faster than their similarly Ford Fiesta-mounted rivals to leapfrog from 3rd to the top step of the podium.It wasn’t all plain sailing for Conrad and Nico, who started the event with a stage win to take the early lead, which they held until stage 3. “We were first on the road on Friday and lost a lot of time in stage 3 which was very slippery over the grassy sections”, Conrad explained, slipping to 2nd overall just over 8 seconds in arrears.
Midway through Saturday’s stages, Conrad and Nico slipped to 3rd overall, where they stayed in the hunt after winning stage 8 before closing the gap to 1.4 seconds before the big penultimate stage push.
“”The car developed a misfire in stage 7 and the alternator broke in stage 9 and we both lost concentration as we watched the battery current drop to critical levels. I knew that stage 10 was crucial as it gets narrow and technical halfway through it with trees close to the edge of the road and that would be where the rally would be won or lost” said the championship leader.
Nico was ecstatic with their second win from three events in the SA series. “This series is so competitive. Conrad was fantastic and the rhythm in the car when we push flat out is very good. I’m happy for Conrad”.
Conrad and Nico headed a Ford Fiesta 1-2, which helped Ford take the event’s Manufacturer’s Award for the first time since the early 1990’s
Nicholas has elected to retain his French competition license and is ineligible to score points towards the SA co-driver’s championship, but heads straight to Zambia for the 3rd round of the FIA African Championship from 20 – 22 May, where the G-Fuel Ford Fiesta pair leads by 17 points after two wins. – Credit: G-Fuel Racing Team