After an emotional – and winning farewell to circuit racing at AA Kyalami over the weekend – superstar Sarel van der Merwe is fired up for his off-road swansong on the Carnival City Casino 400 on Friday and Saturday. –
– The event is the final round of the Bankfin Off-Road Championship and will mark the legendary Supervan’s final appearance in a competition vehicle. Van der Merwe will be sharing the O’Hagan’s/Kopanong Hotel Superteam Jeep with Scott Abraham, and intends finishing his off-road career on the same note that he ended his circuit racing career – by winning. –
– “I am going to drive the wheels off the Jeep and if it holds together those guys in the fancied works vehicles running in Class T could be in for a shock,” said van der Merwe. “Winning my final circuit race was a thrill, and I would like a repeat performance.” –
– Supervan was out testing the Jeep with Abraham the day after his AA Kyalami farewell and was more than satisfied with the outing. The Jeep will run in two-wheel drive in Class F, with van der Merwe confident the vehicle has the potential to win overall on the Carnival City Casino 400. –
– “Every time I have driven the vehicle I have led a race at some stage or other,” said van der Merwe. “Now that the reliability problems appear to have been sorted out I think Scott and I have a realistic shot at an overall victory. –
– “The intention is to go like hell from the start and if we have a clean run the rest of the field can play catch up.” –
– Van der Merwe also thinks the current state of the overall championship in the Production Vehicle category will be a plus factor for himself and Abraham. Two crews – Neil Woolridge and Kenny Skjoldhammer in the Ford Racing Ranger and Duncan Vos/Mike Griffiths in the factory Nissan Hardbody are neck and neck with Hannes Grobler/Richard Leeke in another factory Nissan Hardbody also in the running – and Supervan thinks this will be an advantage. –
– “The leading contenders are all experienced crews, but they are racing for a championship and that puts pressure on them,” said van der Merwe. “They will be occupied with tactical and other considerations while Scott and I can just blast away. –
– “The test session in the Jeep went well, all the emotion of the AA Kyalami event is over and I am looking forward to what should be a very interesting weekend.” –
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