WINTERTON, South Africa – Over the weekend all five of Red-Lined Motorsport’s FIA Class Nissan Navara T1 race pickups made it to the finish of the grueling Berg 400 on KwaZulu-Natal's Drakensberg foothills. This latest finish continues Red-Lined’s perfect finishing record in the 2019 South African Cross Country Championship Series (SACCS).
Red-Lined Motoring Adventure is an official marketing partner with Nissan South Africa. The company focuses on building custom off-road race cars and trucks that are marketed and sold around the world. The Nissan entries to the SACCS are purpose-built T1 Dakar Navaras powered by a VK50 engine.
Rookies Ernest Roberts and Riaan Greyling brought their JCP Roofing Red-Lined Navara home fourth in the FIA class. Even with only two national off-road races under their belts, they were able to overcome a gentle roll-over to make it to the finish. “The Berg was a really tough race,” said Roberts. “We had our work cut out for us but Red-Lined once again prepared us a brilliant Navara to allow us to keep our incredible finish run going since joining the team — thanks to everyone for another brilliant weekend of adventure and racing!"
The Namibian duo Jaco van Dyk and Michael Rust finished close behind in Rust’s 24-7 Race Fuels Red-Lined Navara. “That’s four finishes from four starts since joining the Red-Lined team,” said van Dyk. “Our Navara ran like a dream and this race was a proper adventure with truly challenging terrain and navigation — we are getting to grips with Cross Country racing too, which is good — we can’t wait for the Desert Race."
The Dubai-based British crew Thomas Bell and Patrick McMurren extended their four-race international finishing streak to five races aboard their Dragon Energy Red-Lined Navara, placing sixth in the FIA class. “We have now finished five grueling races on three continents,” said Bell. “It's been an incredible adventure and we are so proud of what we and Red-Lined Motoring Adventures have achieved — what a wonderful story!"
Bell and McMurren were followed by arch adventurer Letshego Zulu and Red-Lined's Terence Marsh in Marsh’s Motul Navara. “Holy Toledo — trying to manage a 5 car team and race at the same time is not simple!” said Marsh. “The race proved an adventure for Letshego and me — we lost brakes on Saturday and I had to use the gearbox to slow us down — it was quite hair raising, but the team fixed the car and we went well from there to get all five cars home — kudos to an incredible team!"
Schalk Burger and Elvene Vonk also endured a demanding run to the finish in their King Price Extreme Red-Lined Navara. “We had our challenges today,” said Burger. “But we made it to the finish once again and we are learning the nuances every mile and are enjoying a special adventure as we build up to our Dakar dream.”
Red-Lined now prepares for a four-car double adventure at the biggest race of the South African Cross Country Series calendar, the Botswana Toyota 1000 Desert Race in June, with Saturday and Sunday’s legs each counting as an individual race in the championship.
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Contact
Karen Van Wyk
Red-Lined Motoring Adventure Marketing
karen@redlined.co.za
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