Midrand-based BAT Racing announced today, following the ongoing success of its locally designed and constructed Special Vehicle, which has dominated the Absa Off Road Championship in recent years that it is expanding into global markets.
“Our success in local off road racing has not gone unnoticed internationally, which has lead to my establishing subsidiaries in the United Arab Emirates, Europe and the USA,” said BAT Racing managing director, Brandon Harcus. “We have proved that we have the ability to design and construct affordable and durable vehicles that are more than a match for anything available internationally.”
Harcus has officially withdrawn from the Absa Off Road Championship and will be relocating to San Diego in California shortly to establish BAT Racing USA and contest two races, the Primm 300 and the Baja 1000, in the 2004 SCORE Off Road Championship.
“It has been my life’s ambition to compete in the Baja 1000, which I plan to do solo from Ensenada to Lap Paz in Mexico in a single-seater BAT,” added Harcus. “Dakar 2005 features prominently in my future plans and my aim is to win the Buggy class next January.”
BAT Racing South Africa will continue to manufacturer complete vehicles and spare components at its Midrand facility with Andre van Aarde responsible for fabrication and construction while long time off road racer Nic Harper, who races an Audi V8 powered BAT, will be responsible for sales and marketing.
Three FIA specification vehicles were sold to Gregoire de Mevius in 2003 with one of them campaigned by Laurent Bourgnon in the 2004 Dakar and in recent rounds of the FIA Baja World Cup. De Mevius will spearhead BAT Racing Europe’s expansion on the continent.
BAT Racing UAE will be based in Dubai and service the needs of scores of off-road fanatics and speed freaks in the region who spend their weekends racing in the desert.
“BAT Racing customers in South Africa are assured of continued good service and I am confident that Nic Harper and Andre van Aarde will ensure that the brand goes from strength to strength,” said Harcus. “I am somewhat sad to be leaving South Africa but extremely excited about my future racing prospects and the challenge of establishing BAT Racing globally.”
