A lack of testing time before the event saw the locally-designed and built car fail to complete the 65-km prologue on Friday when a power steering pipe burst some 35 km into the route. Despite the team’s best efforts to take up their position at Saturday’s start from the Darling Club, a persistent over-heating problem meant that the CR1 stayed on its trailer for the rest of the weekend.
“We had a number of teething problems, which was to be expected considering we only completed the new car days before the first event and were unable to do any proper testing,” said team owner and driver Mark Corbett. “But we’re delighted with the CR1. Although we only completed about 35 km on Friday, it was enough to show us that we have a gutsy little contender. The car has a lot of power (“It goes like a bat out of hell,” said co-driver and engine builder Rudi Balzer) and the mechanical components held up well.
“We’ll be in a much better position to see just how good the new car is when we go to the next event in the Eastern Cape in April.
The CR1 breaks new ground in local off road racing with its innovative construction and layout. It is powered buy a turbo-charged two-litre four-cylinder engine mounted at the back of the vehicle.
Julien Hardy, in charge of the design and construction of the new vehicle, said: “We are very happy with the way it has turned out. We have a unique off road racer, which offers the traction and driveability of a production car and the suspension travel and light weight of a special. We are proud of the fact that our new car is around 85% local content, unlike the majority of specials where most of the components are imported from the USA.
“It is the only special with four wheel drive among the top special vehicles. Where possible, everything was designed and manufactured in South Africa, with 50% of the locally manufactured and fabricated components made in-house at our own workshop near Kyalami,” Hardy added.
