SELEBI-PHIKWE, Botswana – Red-Lined Motoring Adventures went to the Toyota 1000 Desert Race in Botswana with one goal in mind: to take home the prestigious Toyota Road to Dakar award. That’s exactly what Namibian Cross Country Auto Racing rookies Jaco van Dyk and Michel Rust achieved as they powered their 24-7 Race Fuels Red-Lined Nissan Navara T1 race pickup to sixth and fourth overall respectively over the two points-paying days.
"There were quite literally hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the route over the three days and the crowds were amazing, but this race took a little getting used to," said van Dyk. "The Botswana Desert Race is tight and twisty and that's totally different to what we know in the fast and wide-open Namibian desert, but it was an adventure as we adapted well enough and brought home the result we were looking for."
It was also a positive weekend for Schalk Burger Junior and Elvine Vonk, who chased van Dyk and Rust home in seventh on Saturday and fifth on Sunday aboard their King Price Red-Lined Nissan Navara T1.
Ernest Roberts and Riaan Greyling, aboard their JCP Roofing Red-Lined Nissan Navara T1, got their adventure off to the best start with seventh in the FIA Class, just three seconds clear of teamates van Dyk and Rust, with Burger and Vonk not far behind in spite of an early puncture.
A tough first full day, which counted for full championship points, saw van Dyk and Rust coming home fifth among the FIA competitors on Saturday, eight minutes ahead of Burger and Vonk in spite of the duo suffering gearbox issues. There was, however, drama for Roberts and Greyling, who damaged their Navara’s right front suspension after hitting the same tree stump that halted Giniel de Villiers' progress.
Sunday’s race again paid separate points and it went even better for van Dyk and Rust, when not only did they storm in sixth overall and fourth in the FIA Class, but they also won the coveted Toyota Road to Dakar Award that hands them a highly valuable free entry to Dakar Saudi Arabia in 2020 or 2021.
"What an incredible weekend!" said van Dyk. "To pick up the Road to Dakar Award at what was a truly special race finish in front of all those people was a very special moment. We need to thank our Red-Lined team for a great Navara this weekend — sixth yesterday, fourth today and the Road to Dakar ticket in our pocket is a wonderful end to a fantastic weekend!"
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 2019 South African Cross Country Championship Series (SACCS) are purpose-built T1 Dakar Navaras powered by a VK50 engine.
"That was a great weekend for the team," said Red Lined Motoring Adventures team manager Terence Marsh. "We came here looking for that Road to Dakar prize and Jaco and Michel took it home after another great weekend of racing. Schalk and Elvine kept on learning this weekend and while Ernest and Riaan had a tough break, they have had a great start to their rookie season and Sunday’s points keep them in the hunt. What an adventure!"
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Contact
Karen Van Wyk
Red-Lined Motoring Adventure Marketing
karen@redlined.co.za
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