Team Castrol Toyota duo Anthony Taylor and Dennis Murphy sealed the production vehicle championship of the Donaldson Cross Country series when they finished fourth during the Ford Dealer 400, which took place at Thaba ‘Nchu in the Free State over the weekend.
Former champions and Toyota teammates Duncan Vos and Rob Howie took the win (their first of the season) ahead of the Ford Racing Rangers of Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst, and Lance Woolridge and Ward Huxtable.
Taylor adds this Cross Country title to his long list of saloon car championships, while Murphy’s won during his first season with the Castrol Toyota team.
“It has been a great experience for us. Dennis and I have worked well together, the car has been great and the back up from the technical crew has been the best. We’ve have also had our moments of good fortune, and skipping saloon car racing this season has helped me focus solely on the Donaldson Cross Country Championship,” said Taylor, who together with his co-driver managed four wins en route to the title.
The pair didn’t have the best start to the event, suffering a puncture and brake issues during the first of the 170 km loops that made up the event, which dropped them to sixth overall, but their fourth place finish was enough to secure the title ahead of the final round of the championship next month.
Dakar Rally quad bike veteran Sarel van Biljon and Philip Herselman managed their best result of the season in the Atlas Copco Hilux with a fifth overall, ahead of the Kock and Sons Toyota Hilux of Malcolm Kock and Johan Burger, and the Ruwacon Ford Ranger of Louw de Bruin and Riaan Greyling.
The final off-road event of the season is the Atlas Copco 400, which takes place in Westonaria on 22 and 23 November.
