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MRF South African Rally Championship Rounds 7 & 8 Preview

FOREST SPECTACULAR FOR SA RALLY FINALE

by Motorsport Media - 14 Nov 2022 13:30:00
What MRF South African Rally Championship Rounds 7 & 8 Preview
Where Dullstroom, Mpumalanga
When 18-19 November 2022
Community South Africa National

MRF Tyres SA Rally Championship Wraps up in Dullstroom

The 2022 MRF Tyres South African National Rally Championship comes to a head in style on Mpumalanga’s spectacular round 8 and 9 TRACN4 Rally’s escarpment forest stages between Belfast and Dullstroom 18-19 November.
 
It’s all to do for Chris Coertse, Greg Godrich and their new NRC1 Rally Technic Mazda2, who head east in a commanding championship lead. Theuns Joubert and Schalk van Heerden’s Salom Labour Toyota Yaris sits second with Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle third in their Gazoo Racing Toyota Starlet.
 
With a maximum of 74 points on the table and their two title rivals respectively 64 and 68 points adrift, Coertse and Godrich are not quite yet out of the championship woods. All they need to do is finish one day, whereas one of their rivals must win both days to catch them. So the real battle is for second. 
 
Coertse and Godrich, and Botterill and Lyle each won two of the last six rounds, while Joubert and van Heerden took another win. The other round winners are probably the crew that the title contenders may need to pay most attention to. 
 
JJ Potgieter and Tommy du Toit have either won or ended second in the four rallies since they stepped up to their Rally Technic Hyundai i20. They are now established as a formidable MRF SA Rally force and would love to close the season off with a sound warning forward to the 2023.
 
Also of interest in the top class NRC1, Gazoo Racing Global Touting Car refugee Mandla Mdakane has swapped his GTC Corolla for a rally Auris. He has experienced Kes Naidoo at his side for this third MRF SA Rally round start. And if ever there was a NRC1 wildcard, that has to be Natie Booysen and Johan Smit in their classic rear-wheel drive Ford Escort Mk1.
 
Moving on to the classes, consistency appears the key to the ‘22 NRC2 title. Gerald Klopper and Johan Aucamp have kept their cool aboard their Salom Toyota Etios to head to Dullstroom in a 35-point title advantage. Anton Raaths and Mari Ducasse’s Auris and Magriet Potgieter and Rikus Fourie’s Fiesta have similarly picked up points to stay in title contention.
 
The same cannot be said for Benjamin Habig and Barry White, whose Just Tools Polo endured a wretched win or bust season that promised so much more. Jono van Wyk and Ingrid Jeacocks started late but have starred since arriving in their NRC2 Ford Fiesta. Never ignore George Smalberger rallying with Carolyn Swan in his Shield Polo this weekend.
 
The smallest national NRC4 title chase is also still wide open. Anriko Opperman and James Peters’ VW Polo must work to stay ahead of daughter and mum crew Andrea and Isabel Raaths’ Toyota Run X. They both have rally veteran Etienne Lourens and Marius Labuschagne’s similar car for company on Saturday’s stages.
 
As always, there’s a significant level of regional rally entertainment behind the national attraction. The Gauteng action is headed by Lynton Swatton and Craig Reyneke’s Subaru Impreza fighting it out for NR1 honours with Jonathan Simms and Adam Tyrer’s wild Toyota Tazz.
 
Stuart Stirling and Robin Knighton’s popular yellow VW Syncro bus has its work cut out for once in NRC3. They must deal with Toyota duo, Lukas van der Merwe and Gert Jansen van Rensburg’s Corolla, Russell Stone and Bruce Swatton’s Run X, and lady crew Bianca and Yvonne Theunissen’s Opel Corsa on the escarpment.
 
Ashley and Les Mackenzie’s splendid sideways Ford Escort Mk1 will have Dick and Hugo Pallas and Rocco Huzak and Marcel Dangoumou’s Tazzes and Hennie Mostert and Willem Morgan’s Toyota Conquest RSi to deal with in NR4.
 
Rallying through the Belfast and Dullstroom forests, the 204.74 km stage distance TRACN4 National Rally comprises 13 special stages. Six of those tests make up Friday November 18's MRF SA National Rally Round 7, while and seven stages will count to on Saturday’s Round 8. Spectator guides will be available from Rally HQ at the Dullstroom Epilepsy Centre.
 
ENDS

Issued on behalf of MRF SA Rally
 |  SA Sportspress  |  SA Motorsports

FOREST SPECTACULAR FOR SA RALLY FINALE

by Motorsport Media - 14 Nov 2022 13:30:00
What MRF South African Rally Championship Rounds 7 & 8 Preview
Where Dullstroom, Mpumalanga
When 18-19 November 2022
Community South Africa National

MRF Tyres SA Rally Championship Wraps up in Dullstroom

The 2022 MRF Tyres South African National Rally Championship comes to a head in style on Mpumalanga’s spectacular round 8 and 9 TRACN4 Rally’s escarpment forest stages between Belfast and Dullstroom 18-19 November.
 
It’s all to do for Chris Coertse, Greg Godrich and their new NRC1 Rally Technic Mazda2, who head east in a commanding championship lead. Theuns Joubert and Schalk van Heerden’s Salom Labour Toyota Yaris sits second with Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle third in their Gazoo Racing Toyota Starlet.
 
With a maximum of 74 points on the table and their two title rivals respectively 64 and 68 points adrift, Coertse and Godrich are not quite yet out of the championship woods. All they need to do is finish one day, whereas one of their rivals must win both days to catch them. So the real battle is for second. 
 
Coertse and Godrich, and Botterill and Lyle each won two of the last six rounds, while Joubert and van Heerden took another win. The other round winners are probably the crew that the title contenders may need to pay most attention to. 
 
JJ Potgieter and Tommy du Toit have either won or ended second in the four rallies since they stepped up to their Rally Technic Hyundai i20. They are now established as a formidable MRF SA Rally force and would love to close the season off with a sound warning forward to the 2023.
 
Also of interest in the top class NRC1, Gazoo Racing Global Touting Car refugee Mandla Mdakane has swapped his GTC Corolla for a rally Auris. He has experienced Kes Naidoo at his side for this third MRF SA Rally round start. And if ever there was a NRC1 wildcard, that has to be Natie Booysen and Johan Smit in their classic rear-wheel drive Ford Escort Mk1.
 
Moving on to the classes, consistency appears the key to the ‘22 NRC2 title. Gerald Klopper and Johan Aucamp have kept their cool aboard their Salom Toyota Etios to head to Dullstroom in a 35-point title advantage. Anton Raaths and Mari Ducasse’s Auris and Magriet Potgieter and Rikus Fourie’s Fiesta have similarly picked up points to stay in title contention.
 
The same cannot be said for Benjamin Habig and Barry White, whose Just Tools Polo endured a wretched win or bust season that promised so much more. Jono van Wyk and Ingrid Jeacocks started late but have starred since arriving in their NRC2 Ford Fiesta. Never ignore George Smalberger rallying with Carolyn Swan in his Shield Polo this weekend.
 
The smallest national NRC4 title chase is also still wide open. Anriko Opperman and James Peters’ VW Polo must work to stay ahead of daughter and mum crew Andrea and Isabel Raaths’ Toyota Run X. They both have rally veteran Etienne Lourens and Marius Labuschagne’s similar car for company on Saturday’s stages.
 
As always, there’s a significant level of regional rally entertainment behind the national attraction. The Gauteng action is headed by Lynton Swatton and Craig Reyneke’s Subaru Impreza fighting it out for NR1 honours with Jonathan Simms and Adam Tyrer’s wild Toyota Tazz.
 
Stuart Stirling and Robin Knighton’s popular yellow VW Syncro bus has its work cut out for once in NRC3. They must deal with Toyota duo, Lukas van der Merwe and Gert Jansen van Rensburg’s Corolla, Russell Stone and Bruce Swatton’s Run X, and lady crew Bianca and Yvonne Theunissen’s Opel Corsa on the escarpment.
 
Ashley and Les Mackenzie’s splendid sideways Ford Escort Mk1 will have Dick and Hugo Pallas and Rocco Huzak and Marcel Dangoumou’s Tazzes and Hennie Mostert and Willem Morgan’s Toyota Conquest RSi to deal with in NR4.
 
Rallying through the Belfast and Dullstroom forests, the 204.74 km stage distance TRACN4 National Rally comprises 13 special stages. Six of those tests make up Friday November 18's MRF SA National Rally Round 7, while and seven stages will count to on Saturday’s Round 8. Spectator guides will be available from Rally HQ at the Dullstroom Epilepsy Centre.
 
ENDS

Issued on behalf of MRF SA Rally
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