After surviving 435 km of a tough two days in harsh conditions, privateers Pikkie Labuschagne and Rickus Erasmus took top honours in their Hilux. The team crossed the Carnival City finish line 1 minute 3 seconds ahead of the SP Ford Ranger of Lance Woolridge and Ward Huxtable and 7 minutes 21 seconds over Jannie Visser and Joks Le Roux’s SP Hilux on Saturday.
There was plenty of attrition in the event as only 13 of the original 25 Production Vehicles actually finished. The Toyota works duo of Anthony Taylor and Chris Birkin were set for their maiden win this season, leading by a comfortable six minutes before experiencing fuel pressure problems approximately halfway into Saturday’s race.
Teammates Duncan Vos and Rob Howie had a rough weekend, first having fallen foul of a puncture on Friday’s prologue, then having fought hard for seventh overall from starting tenth lost their way momentarily in the thick dust. They regained seventh, but also experienced fuel pressure problems before and after the halfway stop. Despite the comedy of errors, the duo fought till they were instructed to find the shortest way to the finish after being time barred.
“Congratulations to the Toyota privateers, who did a magnificent job. They saved the day for Toyota, a day that had looked so promising for a maiden win for Anthony and Chris. Our two cars suffered from a vapour lock problem, which was particularly affected by winter fuel – vapour lock characteristics are different depending on the time of the year the fuel is made – and also by the hot (32 degrees Centigrade) conditions,” explained said Castrol Team Toyota team principal Glyn Hall.
“We eventually solved the problem via radio contact with Duncan and Rob, who constantly worked on the car as they stopped and started their way to the finish. They showed great determination and spirit and deserved to make it to the finish inside the time limit. It was a close thing and there were valuable championship points at stake with only 13 cars finishing,” Hall observed.
The next round of the ABSA Off-Road Championship is the Human Auto 400, and takes place in the Free State on October 14-15.
