Alfie Cox is contracted to race in two more Dakar rallies for the KTM team, but will be switching to a Nissan Hardbody for the opening round of the 2003 Bankfin Off-Road Championship.
Alfie Cox is contracted to race in two more Dakar rallies for the KTM team, but will be switching to a Nissan Hardbody for the opening round of the 2003 Bankfin Off-Road Championship.
The Nissan Dealer 400 in Darling in the Western Cape takes place on March 21.
“I’m very excited but also very nervous,” said Cox. “I have not raced a car before and there is a lot to learn. I’m confident I can make the transition successfully. I’m under no pressure to achieve too much in my first year. I have a whole season ahead of me and my objective will be to learn and not break the car.”
Cox will combine his domestic car off-road racing with an international build-up to Dakar 2004 that includes the Australian Safari, the Egyptian Rally and the Dubai Rally, all rounds of the FIM World Off-Road Rally Championship.
“We’re privileged to be associated with a motor sportsman of Alfie’s stature,” said Mike Whitfield, an executive vice president of Nissan South Africa.
“We’re thrilled he has chosen to start his four-wheeled off-road career in a Nissan and that he is backed by the progressive Supergroup. We’re also pleased to be the sponsor of the first national championship off-road event to be held in the Western Cape, which is in addition to our annual Nissan Sugarbelt 400, traditionally the second round of the championship.”