BONUS - RUSTENBURG - The multiple SA Rally-Raid champions, Henk Lategan and navigator, Brett Cummings, received the chequered flag as the winners of the Phakisa 400, the sixth and penultimate round of the SARRC at Welkom in the Free State, and by bringing their Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux IMT EVO home as the victors. They concluded unfinished business by securing the overall and the FIA Ultimate T1+ titles.
The team posted the fastest time after the Castrol Qualifying Race on Friday, 13 September while they also set the fastest time on Stage One on the same day, and started first for the two remaining 180-kilometre stages on Saturday, 14 September as the overall leaders.
It was, however, not always plain sailing, as opening the road is complex and has its challenges, while the pressure in the championship battles contributed to the anxiety. This was also the event where an accident last year resulted in Lategan having to receive medical attention and eventually missing the 2024 Dakar Rally. This year, the team returned to the Free State to settle unfinished business, and after two days in dusty and windy conditions with a fast, technical and testing route, they won with a total time of 05:58:57 and claimed their fourth victory of the season and clinched the desired overall and Ultimate T1+ titles.
It was an all TGR podium with Guy Botterill/Dennis Murphy in a similar vehicle finishing second, two minutes and six seconds behind their team-mates after losing time with a puncture early on the last day.
An error cost Giniel de Villiers/Elvéne Vonk 25 seconds on the first day, while they also had to manage overheating issues. The team persevered and rounded off the podium, 108 seconds behind Botterill/Murphy.
Competitors will wrap up the 2024 SA Rally-Raid Championship on 8 and 9 November when they take on the seventh and final event of the season, the Renault KEC Racing Rayton 400 from Legends Adventure Farm situated on the R515, Rhino Park.
