All eyes are set on the competitive debut of the new ID GR Yaris at the Algoa National Rally set to take place over the next two days. The new ID GR Yaris was officially launched at Toyota Uitenhage on Wednesday, July 23.
With Ismaeel Davids behind the wheel and Yusuf Ganief navigating, this machine is ready to tear through the forest gravel and make its mark.
Rally fever is once again gripping the Nelson Mandela Bay region as the Algoa National Rally is taking place on Friday July 25 and Saturday July 26.
The event comprises rounds three and four of the National Rally Championships, partnered with the Tour European Rally (TER), which is an innovative concept of an international rally series approved by the FIA, offering a perfect blend of sporting events and tourism in unique locations, enabling tailored promotion.
Route Director for the event, Rikus Fourie, said local drivers are hungry for the competition and welcome the challenge.
“This is very good for South African rallying to bring back international competition to our shores,” he shared. “The TER series and the South African National Rally Championship will work perfectly in harmony with friendly competition on some of the best roads in SA.”
In addition, visiting teams can soak in the local flavours and explore the beauty the region has to offer.
“We have a big focus on spectator-friendly stages and we have found a good balance with the roads on offer in close proximity to the motoring town of Kariega, the home of Volkswagen SA.”
Luca Grilli, TER promoter and organiser, commented: “We are very proud of the partnership reached with the Algoa National Rally as a TER Candidate Event.
“This is the first step in a collaboration that shares many common goals between the Algoa National Rally organisation and us. From today, it also joins the new category of Candidate Events that may become part of the series in the future.
“After Europe, America, Oceania and Asia (as a TER Promo Event in Japan 2022), Africa is now welcomed into the TER family.”
One of the exciting international drivers that will be participating is 16-year-old Zambian driver Seth Gomes with his mother Ursula, who is a former Zambian and African navigator champion in the navigator seat.
Nicknamed the “Zambian Assassin”, he will no doubt be pushing his Mitsubishi Evo to the absolute limit.
Other international teams in the mix are the Namibian team of Peer Rohm and Pieter Steyn in a classic Ford Escort Mk2, Jairaj Jutley from Kenya will be driving a VW Polo with local navigator Ottie Marais and former Kenya Rally Championship winner Lee Rose will join forces with local lass Ingrid Jeacocks in Algoa Rally Club Chairman Oliver de Man’s Toyota Corolla.
Jono van Wyk from Swaziland will be hoping to continue his great start to the national campaign after he and Nico Swartz won the first round of the National Rally Championship in a Mazda 2 a few weeks ago.
The rally will have its traditional ceremonial start at the VW Auto Pavilion on Friday July 25 where the rally cars will gather from 08:30 and start at 10:00.
Meanwhile, the second spectator zone will be at Jachtvlakte at 14:00 and to close off Friday’s action, a spectator-friendly night stage at 17:15 on tar on the Daniel Pienaar road where it crosses the R75 will be closed for racing action.
Residents are reminded that there will be road closures in the area for the duration of the rally stage. The bridge on top of the R75 will be closed from 14:00 on Friday (Exit 28 R334 Coega / Uitenhage) while stages are free to view, access into Longmore Forest will be charged at R50 per car with card facilities available at the gate leading into the forest.
On Saturday July 26, the round four action will move to Longmore Forest with an early start at 08:00. A detailed spectator guide is available on Algoa Rally Club website.
You must be logged in to post a comment.