Fouriesburg is buzzing with excitement as it prepares to host the inaugural round of the prestigious South African National and Northern Regions Rally Championship during the last weekend of April.
On 25 and 26 April, this historic event promises a thrilling display of skill, strategy and the unwavering spirit of motorsport.
Organised with meticulous detail, the rally features a series of challenging stages painstakingly crafted with the invaluable support of local farmers. These stages are designed to test the limits of the competing drivers while simultaneously offering spectators an unforgettable experience.
The competition kicks off on Friday, 25 April, with crews tackling a series of adrenaline-charged southern stages. Teams will take on three challenging stages, including: SS 1 and 4 – Broadlands – 14,70km; SS 2 and 5 – Vêr Genoeg – 14,13km; and SS 3 and 6 – Carolina – 11,23km.
The Broadlands stage is poised to be a fan favourite, designed by local farmer Johan Scheepers, affectionately known as “Apla.” This stage is not just about speed, it is about strategy and precision. The Broadlands stage will also serve as the Power Stage on Saturday, offering competitors a crucial opportunity to earn valuable championship points. Saturday shifts the focus to the northern stages, introducing new challenges: SS 7 and 10 – Sandvlei – 11,67km; SS 8 and 11 – De Breede Weg – 12,64km; SS 9 and 12 – Straight and Narrow – 9,54km; and SS 13 – Broadlands Power Stage – 14,70km.
The Vêr Genoeg stage, nestled in the Besters Valley, is expected to be a true test of endurance and skill for both drivers and co-drivers. Its tight twists and steep hills will put teams’ physical and mental capabilities to the test.
The event will take place at the Central Service Park, located opposite Die Plaasstoep on Truter Street, Fouriesburg. This area will serve as the heart of the event, where teams can prepare, refuel, and strategise between stages. The official start time for the rally is set for 13:00 on Friday, the beginning of a two-day showdown that promises a total of 135,68km of racing action.
The South African National Rally Championship is a series of rallying events that has taken place each year since 1960. It was won 11 times by Sarel van der Merwe in the 1970s and 1980s, and ten times by Serge Damseaux from 1989 to 2004.
Toyota and Volkswagen vehicles have both won the title of Champion Car in most years from as far back as 1998.
Now in its 61st consecutive year, the sport has been kept alive by privateers since 2017, with the decline of sponsorships and non-involvement of manufacturers due to the worldwide economic slow down.
This rally championship has seen the exciting development of the new Africa Rally 1 (AR 1) category car, competing in the NRC 1 class.
A normal Aspirated 1600 Turbo, all-wheel drive (AWD) car. The newcomers to this class are the Hyundai i 20, Mazda 2 and Toyota Starlet. These cars compete with the S2000 and old group N cars (Subarus). This promises to be a very exciting class to watch at every event.
The NRC 1 class took over from the 1600 R2 homologated cars as the official Championship class of the South African Championship.
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