Gaborone: Series day one
Source: Motorsport.com (Original Article)
ENTHRALLING PRODUCTION VEHICLE BATTLE ON TOYOTA 1000 DESERT RACE
Gaborone, Saturday - The opening day of the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race, round four of the Absa Off Road Championship, which started here today produced an enthralling battle in the Production Vehicle category.
When the dust had settled, and there was plenty of it, provisional results at the overnight stop in Hatsalatladi saw the factory Castrol Toyota Hilux crew of Mark Cronje and Chris Birkin in a slender 17 second lead over reigning South African champion Duncan Vos and Louis Weichelt in a Sasol Nissan Navara. It was a tremendous drive by Cronje and Birkin who started 12 in the Production Vehicle category.
“We had a great run but I was a little surprised to find we were leading,” said Cronje. “It was a tough day in a tough race and tomorrow is probably going to be even tougher.”
Apart from a slight overheating problem towards the end of the punishing first day, Vos and Weichelt, standing in for Ralph Pitchford who has an overseas commitment, also reported a trouble free run. Just 90 seconds behind the Nissan crew were two-time winners Neil Woolridge and Kenny Skjoldhammer in the factory Ford Racing Ranger, with the veteran pair looking ominous.
“It was a very hard day and you could not afford to relax for one second,” said Vos. “It is going to be the same tomorrow and it is just so easy to make a mistake.
Behind the leaders Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst (Castrol Toyota Hilux), former SA Special Vehicle champions Alfie Cox and Hennie ter Stege (Motorite Ford) and circuit racing star Anthony Taylor in the second Castrol Toyota Hilux, were locked in a tremendous battle. Just on three minutes separated the three crews and, as with the leading trio, anything can happen on the gruelling 500 kilometres that will make up the final day.
Not yet out of the picture was multiple winner Hannes Grobler, partnered by Frequent Flyer Juan Mohr in a second factory …continue reading