Toyota Auris pairing Leeroy Poulter and Elvene Coetzee claimed victory in the second round of the 2011 SA National Rally Championship. The 20th Sasol Rally was held in Mpumulanga Lowveld this past weekend, with 17 competitive stages providing eight different stage winners, four different rally leaders and five lead changes.
Poulter and Coetzee took their maiden win by a scant seven seconds over team mate Johnny Gemmell and his co-driver, Drew Sturrock, while Toyota claimed its 100th SA rally championship win.
Jan Habig and Robert Paisley were protecting VW's honour when they held the lead on Saturday but the VW charge ended when Habig rolled the S2000 Polo. Paisley was hospitalised with a suspected fractured collarbone.
Conrad Rautenbach/Nicolas Klinger (Ford Fiesta S2000) claimed the final podium spot to maintain the championship lead. Team Total’s JP Damseaux/Carolyn Swan (Toyota RunX S2000) were fourth overall, ahead of the Team Sasol Ford Fiesta S2000 of Mark Cronje/Robin Houghton.
Round three of the National Championship is scheduled to take place from 13 to 14 May in Ermelo.