The 2004 SA Off Road Car Racing Championship kicks off with the Cape Peninsula Motorcycle and Car Club (CPMCC) organised Nissan Dealer 400, which will be held in the Darling district in the Western Cape on March 19 and 20.
Up country competitors making the long trek to the Western Cape can expect a route that has changed significantly from that of last year in that much of the extremely sandy sections that decimated the Special Vehicle field have been replaced with more suitable terrain.
“The revised 172km route, which competitors will complete twice, consists of rocky sections, dense bush, vineyards, sandy sections, mountain tracks and a dry salt pan with fewer long straights, which will be less punishing on gearboxes and clutches,” said CPMCC Clerk of the Course, Robert Marle. “Notwithstanding the changes the revised route features varied terrain and will be a fair test for crews and their vehicles.”
The Nissan Dealer 400 is expected to attract at least 60 entries in the Special and Production Vehicle categories and the Darling Club will be a hive of activity on Friday, March 19 when documentation and scrutineering gets underway at 08h30.
The 43km Prologue to determine starting positions for the main event starts at 13h00 on Friday with the race proper commencing at 08h00 on Saturday. The winning vehicle is expected at the finish at 15h00.
“The route is extremely compact and spectators will have an opportunity to see some of the quickest machinery on dirt in action at six designated spectator points,” said Marle. “The local community will again provide food and liquid refreshments at selected spectator points.”
