The Sasol dualfuelä Volkswagen Rally Team will be looking for a strong finish at the Toyota Dealers Great North Rally this weekend, providing it can withstand the all-wheel drive juggernaut, and an in-form Serge Damseaux. Enzo Kuun has been the most successful so far this season, and is in 3rd place in the Sasol dualfuelä SA Rally Championship, behind Etienne Lourens and Serge Damseaux. –
– It has been a long and difficult season for the blue team, but impressive results in the last two rallies in Aliwal North and Cape Town point to a very strong showing, despite the extremely hot conditions likely to be encountered in Tzaneen. Last year it was so hot many of the top runners had to retire as the cars, driven on the limit most of the time, could take the punishment no more. –
– Despite the fact that only Etienne Lourens (Class A7 Team Total Corolla) stands any chance of winning the championship from Damseaux (Class A8 Castrol RunX Rsi), the Sasol Volkswagen team are leaving nothing to chance. Jan Habig and Enzo Kuun went testing last Friday, and were pleased with the outcome. Tyres are an all important component where weather conditions are extreme, and the wrong tyre choice can be very costly. –
– “Winning rallies is as important as winning the championship, that is why we are going all out this weekend. It has been a long hard season and it would be good to finish off on a high despite not winning the championship this time. It has been our turn the last two seasons, and we will try again next season,” said Jan Habig, who pilots the # 1 Sasol dualfuelä Golf 4. –
– Kuun, who teamed up with seasoned navigator Guy Hodgson at the beginning of the season is looking for a better performance this time around. Last season his Golf hit a rock and punctured the sump leading to his retirement later that day while he was in the lead. “Last year’s retirement was bitterly disappointing when the car was feeling so good and I was feeling so confident. This year should be much better as bad luck is unlikely to follow us for two years in a row,” Kuun stated. –
– In Class A7, Hergen Fekken and Tjaart van der Walt in the two Sasol dualfuelä Volkswagen Polo Playas will be looking to give Etienne a run for his money. Van der Walt has not had the best of season so far, having to retire on more than one occasion. Fekken on the other hand is trying to continue where he left off in Cape Town. “The retirement rate at the Great North is normally high, either to intense heat or very muddy and wet conditions. Keeping the car on the road is normally the overriding concern for most drivers, but a winner has to emerge somewhere. I will take whatever opportunities present themselves and hopefully finish very strongly again,” said Fekken. –
– Under closer scrutiny will be the ever-improving Gugu Zulu in the Sasol dualfuelä Chico. He could wrap up the Class A5 championship if he has another strong performance like he has done all season. “I’m enjoying myself in the car as we are quite competitive. –
– It’s only my second season as a rally driver and if things go according to my wishes and I win the championship, then it will be a huge bonus. I am taking every stage as it comes and just doing things to the best of my ability. Dave’s (McGregor) experience is certainly a huge help and calming influence. Hopefully we can build on it and move on to bigger things,” said Zulu, who is only 1 point behind class leader, Rodney Visagie (Team Total Tazz). –
– Fellow Class A5 teammates Nkosinathi Nzimande and Fani Moyiwa, consistent finishers since they started in 2001 are likely to put up another solid performance. They have had a tougher year than they expected, but are determined to finish strongly. “We just want to get in there and do well. If we finish first, then we will be even happier. This last one is difficult because of the weather. You have to be very strong mentally and physically, especially if you have the misfortune of a puncture in wet weather. We will go out and enjoy ourselves, and that’s not difficult when you have a competitive car like ours.” –
– For all the news on Team Sasol Volkswagen as well the Sasol dualfuelä SA Rally Championship 2003, which concludes this weekend in Limpopo Province, visit www.sasolmotorsport.co.za or call 08 22 33 4321. –
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