LICHTENBURG, South Africa – Spanish racing driver and former Formula One driver Fernando Alonso will be making a guest appearance at the Lichtenburg 400 over the 14 September weekend. Three Red-Lined Motoring Adventure Nissan Navaras are also gearing up to compete, including two season debuts.
The only returning Red-Lined crew member from this most recent season is rookie driver Ernest Roberts. Roberts will team up with Henry Kohne in a new front-mid engine 5.6-litre Nismo VK56 V8-powered JCP Roofing Red-Lined Navara.
"We have spent a little time with the new car now, so I am getting used to the extra powerful and nimbler handling," said Roberts, "and I’m looking forward to another great adventure in Lichtenburg — imagine that, racing against Alonso!"
Neither Desert Race Road to Dakar winners Jaco van Dyk and Michel Rust nor team principal Terence Marsh and Letshego Zulu will be participating this weekend.
However, two new Red-Lined crews will be making their cross country debuts. SA circuit Endurance Racing refugee Kishoor Pitamber will be racing under the watchful eye of experienced team navigator Andre Vermeulen in a VK50 version, as he prepares for a 2020 SA Cross Country campaign. "No pressure for me this weekend," said Pitamber. "With everyone watching Fernando's cross country debut, I can just quietly get on with it!"
Young guns Richard Leeke and Zaheer Bodhanya will be racing in Marsh and Zulu’s place, in another brand new Nismo VK56 machine. Leeke, who won several SA national rallies last year, is in the process of switching over to cross country racing and is looking forward to the Red-Lined experience. "Lichtenburg will be a learning experience in the Red-Lined Navara," said Leeke. "I am looking forward to a great race in some great company - thanks so much to Terence for this wonderful opportunity!"
"We have an interesting rookie line-up facing adventures in our Red-Lined Nissan Navaras this weekend," said Marsh. "We have a drag racer, and endurance circuit racer and a rally driver dipping their toes in the cross-country pond, which is good news for our branch of motorsport. The lads are looking forward to it and we are keen to see how they run — let the adventure begin!"
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Contact
Karen Van Wyk
Red-Lined Motoring Adventure Marketing
karen@redlined.co.za
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