Competitors on the Mafikeng 500, round six of the Absa Off Road Championship, in the North West Province on September 24 and 25 can expect a very different route to that used in previous years.
The route for this year’s event will be a figure of eight and incorporate a Northern loop of 211 kilometres and a Southern loop of 240 kilometres with race headquarters and the Designated Service Point located at 10 SAI Battalion, 3 kilometres North of the Mafikeng Tusk Resort on the main Lobatse road.
“We have taken heed of competitor’s complaints that the route on last year’s event was too fast,” said Jeremy Minchin from the Mafeking Motor Club. “By incorporating the Southern loop we have been able to include the notorious river bed section that has proved to be the nemesis of many competitors in the past.”
“We are aiming at an average speed of 75 km/h for the event.”
The Mafikeng 500 gets underway with a 35-kilometre Prologue at 13h00 on Friday, September 24 with the main event starting at 08h00 on Saturday, September 25. The first car is expected at the finish at 14h00.