Local lads and Dakar Rally rookies Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst crashed out of the 2014 edition of the gruelling Dakar Rally. The pair were running well until their Ranger hit the treacherous Nihuil dunes, where the vehicle launched over a dune and rolled heavily.
Visser incurred a neck injury as a result, and was taken to a local hospital for X-rays. The on-site medical team confirmed that the driver was alert and able to move. Badenhorst emerged shaken but unhurt, and expressed his disappointment at the pairing’s Dakar dream coming to an end after just two days.
Said team manager Neil Woolridge: “In terms of Chris and Japie, first and foremost we are happy to hear that they have emerged from the accident without any serious injuries, which testifies to the strength of the Ranger. The dunes are extremely difficult, and regularly even catch out the front-runners. We have communicated with their families, and they will be kept up to date.
“Clearly we are all disappointed that they are out of the race, but the team will now focus its efforts on the remaining car and give them the best possible package through to the end.”
Argentines Lucio Alvarez and Ronnie Graue (308) made up for the day one disappointment by clocking the ninth fastest time on stage two of the 2014. The local duo are now 38th overall, having moved up from 130th position overnight.