East Rand competitors will be hoping to finish the season on a high note on the Carnival City Casino 400, the final event on this year’s Bankfin Off-Road Championship calendar, on November 29 and 30. –
– Germiston based veteran Giel Nel and Brakpan stalwart Cliff Barker will be in action on an event that will settle a number of championship issues – including the overall drivers and co-drivers championships in the Production and Special Vehicle categories. For Nel, in the Luk Afrika Truggy, the East Rand race will be particularly important. –
– Nel is the defending Class B champion and needs to win his class outright if he is to stand a chance of retaining the championship. He currently lies second to KwaZulu-Natal driver Marcus Taylor in the title race, and also has an outside chance of sneaking in the back door in the Special Vehicle driver’s championship. –
– “It is a tough call, but I’ be giving it my best shot,” said Nel. “Anything can happen in motorsport, and it would be nice to upset the odds in what is a home race for me.” –
– Barker and Vic Campher will compete in the Production Vehicle category and will again be out in the potent Barker Performance Products Land Rover. The pair will run in Class T against the factory Nissan, Toyota and Ford teams but will be looking for a good finish. –
– “It has been an up and down season for us,” said Barker. “Competing on home territory always provides you will a little extra incentive, so hopefully we can come up with something special.” –
– The Carnival City Casino 400 will be a spectator friendly event and a popular “bring ‘n braai” area will again be in operation, providing a friendly atmosphere for friends and enthusiasts to get together in convivial surroundings. –
– Spectators at Carnival City will also have access to fast food outlets, a beer tent and toilet facilities. The section of the route that passes through the Carnival City complex has also been revamped and now includes additional high-speed ramps to increase the spectacle. –
– This will provide enthusiasts with spectacular views of the action. Spectators will be able to see the cars three times from one vantage point within the complex, and will also be within close proximity of spectator points within a few kilometers of Carnival City. –
– Two prime spectator points along the route will also offer fast food and beverage outlets and toilet facilities as well as a public address system. Route and spectator guides will be available to the public at the start and finish. –
– The weekend’s action will get underway with the prologue, to determine grid positions, at 13:00 on November 29. This should provide plenty of action and will set the tone for what looks like developing into a highly dramatic weekend of world class off-road racing. The main event gets underway at 08:00 on Saturday, November 30. –
– PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE VIA www.motorpics.co.za
