Round 5 and a new challenge awaits competitors in the 2007 ABSA Off Road Championship on 27 & 28 July. The inaugural African Heritage Cross Country 400 race will take place in the Eastern Cape.
With the season now firmly in the second half, Team Ford Racing’s four Ford Rangers are focused on putting in a hard challenge and are confident that it will bring top results. As is customary, the preparation of the racing trucks and a consistent finishing performance is a key factor in securing points for the team.
Brandon Harcus and co-driver Juan Mohr, currently lying third in the prestigious SP Class, go into the all new event full of confidence following a fourth place finish on the gruelling Desert 1000 race. Although the pair had to overcome some close calls their Team Ford Racing Ranger proved its durability and pace.
“It is that time in the season where a good result can see a crew moving up the overall ladder,” explained Harcus. “Although the event is new on the calendar, I have a fair knowledge of the terrain and am confident that we can put in a top-rate challenge.”
Stalwarts of Team Ford Racing, Neil Woolridge and Kenny Skjoldhammer are always contenders in the SP category and the Eastern Cape event will be no different. The pair overcame a poor qualifying prologue at the Desert 1000 to claw their way back up the ranks to finish a respectable fifth overall. With a number of international competitors taking part in the upcoming event, the Woolridge/Skjoldhammer pace and reliability should see the team raising both overseas and local eyebrows.
The third Class SP Ford Ranger of Manfred Schröder and Ward Huxtable were forced out of the Desert action when their Ford Racing Ranger suffered brake problems on day two. The pairing knows how to win and the time has come to reclaim some lost positions in the title race.
“We know we have the right package for the job, it is just a case of getting it all together on the day. The field is so competitive that the slightest issue, like a puncture, can drop you out of the running, but with the amount of preparation put in by the team we are confident we can do it.” says Schröder.
Jack Peckham and his co-driver Lucio Santoro in the 2.5TD Class E Ford Racing Ranger, have been leading the class up to the Desert and will be putting a major effort to claim back the podium.
Peckham says “Although we were content with our second place finish last time out, we want to take back our position at the top of the Class E Championship. The car was constantly pounded during the Desert Race. It has undergone a lot of repair work, and I am extremely confident that we can walk away from the Eastern Cape back on top.”
Team Ford Racing is sponsored by Ford, Ford Credit, Rockford Fosgate, Time Freight, Absolute and Harden Panel beaters.
