The reigning Absa Special Vehicle Co-driver’s Champion, Brandon Harcus, will unveil his new single seater BAT at the Toyota Dealer 400 on October 22 and 23.
Harcus will use the opportunity to shakedown his new vehicle in preparation for the 2005 Score International Off Road Series in the USA.
“I have driven solo before so it’s not a new experience for me to drive and navigate at the same time,” said Harcus. “The organisers assure me that the route will be well marked so I don’t expect to have too much of a problem finding my way.”
“The BAT is very different to the twin-seater versions of the locally designed and constructed vehicles and will have more wheel travel, a rear mounted Chevy LS-1 V8 engine, a 5-speed sequential gearbox, an onboard navigation system and a 230 litre fuel tank, which will allow me to complete the race without having to stop at the designated service point.”
Harcus predicts that BAT vehicles will put an end to the Jimco domination in the Special Vehicle category of the Absa Off Road Championship. Jimco’s have won four of the six events this season with Atang Makgekgenene (Total Jimco) accounting for three wins and John Weir-Smith (Kopanong Hotel Superteam Jimco) for one while Mark Corbett (Century Property Developments BAT) and Gary Bertholdt (Advansoft BAT) have each won a race.
“The Jimco brigade can expect to get battered on the Toyota Dealer 400 and the Carnival City Casino 400,” said a confident Harcus.
