It is no secret that there is a new Ranger based VW bakkie in the works but that hasn’t stopped the German brand from giving the current model the valediction it deserves. Our editor Damian Adams will be spending the next few days behind the wheel to get a real sense of the Spirit of Amarok.
Over the next few days, Damian will fly our flag high in the annual Spirit of Amarok competition which has been taking place since 2011. The amateur 4×4 precision driving championship has over 560 teams from Southern Africa, which translates into over 1,100 people converging on the Free State city of Bloemfontein over the next week.
Mark Handley, Head of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles added that: “The Spirit of Amarok championship has been taking place since 2011 and we’re incredibly proud of the growth of the competition. This competition creates the ideal environment where our customers can experience the capabilities of the Amarok.”
This is compliments of an off road course that has been designed and prepared by Sarel van der Merwe, who is a household name in motorsport circles, having won 11 SA rally championships himself. The winner of the Spirit of Amarok will take the coveted Wolf Trophy home after timed speed and prowess challenges will have competitors awarded accordingly through a points system.
Recap here with the 2017 International Spirit of Amarok.
The steed to accompany man and woman on this epic is the Volkswagen Amarok Double Cab 3.0 TDI Extreme 4MOTION Auto. While that in itself is quite the mouthful, we are certain the course and experience will leave all of those competing at a loss for words.
With news on the imminent arrival of a new Amarok, this is a fitting tribute to a vehicle “which has sold over 40 000 units since its launch in South Africa in 2010” said Handley. He further concluded “From the first quarter of 2023, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will launch the second generation Amarok in the local market,” and we wait with bated breath to receive the newcomer that will have big shoes to fill for the German brand in South Africa.
