The Kopanong Hotel Superteam has entered three vehicles in the Lesotho Sun 400, round five of the Absa Off Road Championship, which takes place in the Mountain Kingdom on August 20 and 21.
The usual five-car squad has been trimmed somewhat as a result of terminal damage to Nic Goslar’s Raceco and the sale of Buks Carolin’s Raceco, which formed part of the team up until the Sun City 400.
Goslar and Warren Bowie survived a high-speed encounter with a hidden rock, which damaged the Class S Raceco beyond economical repair and has sidelined Goslar, who sustained spinal injuries, for the rest of the season.
Buks Carolin started off the season as part of the Kopanong Hotel Superteam and intended to race the ex-championship winning Class S Raceco in which he, Richard Schilling and Richard Leeke competed in the Parker 400 in the USA in the early 90’s. However, an opportunity arose for Carolin to co-drive for Atang Makgekgenene in the Total Jimco and he jumped at the opportunity. The BMW 540 V8 powered Raceco is now for sale.
“It is a pity that Nic Goslar will not be competing for the rest of the year and we are sad to not have Buks Carolin as part of the Superteam any longer,” said Andre Botha. “We will now concentrate our efforts on the three remaining cars for the rest of the season.”
John Weir-Smith and Geoff Minnitt will spearhead the Kopanong Hotel Superteam challenge in the Special Vehicle category in the BMW 540 V8 powered Class A Jimco, Chris Fick and Robert Knight will be in action in the Class D Land Rover and the Class F championship leading Chevy of Andre Botha and Beans Heydenrych will tackle the narrow mountain passes in the Lesotho lowlands.
Weir-Smith and Minnitt have what it takes to win overall and will be going all out to end Makgekgenene and Carolin’s domination in the Special Vehicle category while rookies Fick and Knight will come up against a full field of highly competitive Class D crews including the factory entered Ford, Nissan and Toyotas. Botha and Heydenrych will have their hands full trying to get the large Chevy through the many narrow sections of the route.
“The Lesotho Sun 400 promises to be tough challenge for everyone but I am confident that the Superteam will be well prepared to take on the mountains and come away with three finishes and hopefully even a win in the Special Vehicle category,” added Botha.