Colin-on-Cars - Car of the Year finalists named

The Top 25 Finalists for the 2022 South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition have been announced. by the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ), which has run the event continuously since 1986.

“This year’s COTY finalists show us the tremendous speed of research and development in the automotive industry. The finalists represent the best of the best in South Africa, and we are eager to see who the winners of this year’s competition will be,” says Carl Wepener, Chairman of the SAGMJ.

Volkswagen Golf GTi

Besides the overall winner’s crown, finalists can also win one of ten categories: Budget, Compact, Compact Family, Midsize, Premium, Luxury, Performance, New Energy, Adventure SUV and 4X4 Double Cab. The first category, Budget, has no contenders this year.

The most competitive categories in this year’s competition are the Midsize and Performance categories, with five finalists each. The Midsize category comprises the Audi A3, Hyundai’s Palisade, Santa Fe and Staria, and the Mercedes Benz C-Class. BMW’s 128ti and M3, Porsche 911 Carrera GTS, Toyota GR Yaris and Volkswagen Golf GTI make up the finalists in the Performance category.

Hyundai Staria

Strong contenders in the Compact and Compact Family categories represent imported brands, with Toyota the only OEM that manufactures vehicles locally.

This year, the New Energy category represents a wider range of vehicles, which indicates the increased focus by OEMs in this segment of the market.

The Adventure SUV and 4×4 Double Cab categories are just as competitive this year as the 2021 COTY competition, where a newcomer in the class is competing against an established, locally manufactured rival.

With six finalists in five different categories, Toyota has the most finalists in this year’s competition. Hyundai is in second place, with five finalists in three different categories.

“The Car of the Year committee is extremely pleased with the variety of vehicles that made the Finalist round of this year’s competition. Our jury panel of experts has a tough task ahead of them,” says Graham Eagle, Chairman of the 2022 COTY committee.

Peugeot 208

The final round of scoring will commence shortly and continue until early April. This round also includes data from Lightstone, which is used for automated scoring based on segment sales volumes and spec-adjusted competitor pricing.

“The 2022 COTY committee wishes all contenders good luck. The Category Winners and Overall SA Car of the Year Winner will be announced in May,” concludes Eagle.

This year again will see a Motor Enthusiast’s Choice (public vote) as introduced during last year’s competition. Posts of each Finalist will be regularly published on social media, and the Finalist with the most likes wins. #2022sacoty.

https://bit.ly/3402b1F

Colin-on-Cars - The awards roll in for Stellantis

The Stellantis auto giant is raking in the awards with the Peugeot 9X8 winning the "Grand Prize for the most beautiful Hypercar of the year" at the 37th Festival Automobile International and The 37th Festival Automobile International jury pinning the prize for the Most Beautiful Car of 2022 to DS 4.

The Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar was revealed in July 2021 and has won over the Festival Automobile International’s jury and car design enthusiasts.

"I am very proud to win this prize, which is an acknowledgement of the Design and Peugeot Sport teams’ work, who worked together on this project," says Matthias Hossann, Peugeot's Director of Design. "The quality of the exchanges with the Peugeot Sport team was exceptional, both on a technical and human level.”

Competition

The Peugeot 9X8, a brand new generation of competition car, due to make its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2022, incorporates all the contemporary aesthetic codes specific to the Peugeot brand: a feline stance, fluid lines enhanced by signs of sportiness, sleek and structured flanks and also the distinctive three-clawed light signatures of the Lion. 

Slim and sleek, the Peugeot 9X8 elicits emotion and embodies speed. The Peugeot 9X8 is already an iconic object, an aesthetic and technical revolution, the ultimate design adventure.

The interior of the Peugeot 9X8, a trademark sign of Peugeot's design expertise, incorporates the brand's specific i-Cockpit concept. As with a production vehicle project, as much high level care has been given to designing both the inside and outside of the car. The cockpit of the Peugeot 9X8 has been created in its entirety to offer drivers a more ergonomic and intuitive experience.

Designed by the DS DESIGN STUDIO PARIS, DS 4 stands out with its proportions and remarkably imposing presence, as much on the outside as on the inside.

This Most Beautiful Car of the Year prize is the seventh trophy awarded to DS Automobiles during the last eight Festival Automobile Internationals.

Reward

“This Most Beautiful Car of the Year prize is a reward for the women and men who have shaped DS 4, way beyond the team at DS DESIGN STUDIO PARIS. Before even drawing the first pencil line, we worked with our engineers for two years to model the technical platform,” says Thierry Metroz, DS Automobiles Design Director.

“When we started the creative process, our room for manoeuvre for rolling out a new concept was remarkable. Inspired by the DS AERO SPORT LOUNGE concept, also recognised last year by the Festival Automobile International, DS 4’s shape is unique in the segment with hitherto unseen proportions. The line is athletic, very muscular, compact and sat on very large wheels. It turns out to be aerodynamic, efficient, and charismatic all at once.”

https://bit.ly/3KM2wW8

Colin-on-Cars - Reducing workplace vehicle crashes

With some 40% of workplace deaths the result of vehicle crashes, companies need to put in place a culture of road safety for at word drivers.

South Africa crash statistics are way higher than international levels and this serves to highlight the importance of actively trying to reduce the number of crashes that occur amongst fleets.

The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, adds: “Not only does it show how important it is to take measures to reduce workplace crashes but also shows the importance of giving an honourable nod to companies committed to road safety and that take active steps to reduce the occurrence of this within their companies.

Recognise

“It is for this reason MasterDrive presents its inaugural Fleet Safety Awards, which will recognise and honour companies and individuals that make this commitment to road safety. Through the awards we hope to pay homage to companies that take the issue of road safety as seriously as we do by making it a part of their company ethos, starting at the top of the organisation and trickling its way throughout to every member that gets behind the wheel.”

More information on MasterDrive’s Fleet Safety Awards will be released soon. Nominations for companies deserving of this honour are already open. Should you know of a company that you believe is paragon of road safety with the corporate world, please email  info@masterdrive.co.za to obtain more information about what is required to qualify and how to make your nomination.

Experience

The event will feature international speakers who will share their experience in the road safety arena along with a number of other speakers. The winner will be selected by an independent panel of judges based on specific criteria. The event will also be MasterDrive’s first hybrid event enabling a selected number of people to join in person.

Internationally, road safety policies within companies are given the utmost priority.

“Unfortunately, in South Africa there are only a limited number of companies, often with international presence, that give the issue of road safety as much priority. Conversely, there are a large number of companies that do not grasp the importance of doing everything possible to prevent road accidents. As a society we need to change this perception and the belief that the stats we see are as a result of the actions of other drivers and not our ourselves.

Attention

“MasterDrive believes that by lauding the companies that give road safety the attention it needs, it will encourage others to follow their example. We spend much time raising awareness of road safety and common issues that affect this. It is now time to show appreciation for the organisations that take these issues seriously. Your efforts do not go unnoticed by MasterDrive!,” says Herbert.

https://bit.ly/3tUit6A

Colin-on-Cars - Car of the Year contenders announced

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists’ has announced the list of semi-finalists for the 2022 Car of the Year competition - the oldest car competition in the country, with its inaugural event taking place in 1986.

Over the years, the COTY competition has evolved based on changes in the automotive industry.

Honda Fit

“The impact of COVID-19 on the automotive industry has also seen changes in car launches and the allocation of fleet vehicles over the last year, necessitating modifications to the 2022 COTY competition,” says Graham Eagle, Chairman of the 2022 COTY committee.

This year has also seen the increased importance of online scoring by Guild members. As in 2021, this year will also not see a physical event where winners will be announced; the winners will be announced on the Guild’s digital platforms.

Categories

The 39 semi-finalists represent 10 categories launched between March 31 and December 31, 2021. Four contenders tied with identical scores in the final 35th semi-finalist position and were all included.

Subaru Outback

A total of 65 new vehicles launched in South Africa during this period were considered for this year’s COTY competition.

Energy

For the first time in the competition’s history, the decision was made that vehicles launched with both regular and new energy derivatives would be entered into both their relevant vehicle category and the New Energy Category. Vehicle ranges that only launched a new energy derivative were also included in the ever-growing New Energy Category.

The recently announced 25 juror and trainee juror teams will vote for the 2022 COTY competition finalists in 10 categories.

The categories are: Budget, Compact, Compact Family, Midsize, Premium, Luxury, Performance, New Energy, Adventure SUV and 4X4 Double Cab.

Hyundai Palisade

 Toyota dominates with seven semi-finalists competing in five categories, but there is also strong representation by Audi and Hyundai. Surprisingly, the Performance Category has nine contenders, the most in many years. This year there are no contenders in the Budget category.

Audi A3

Shortly the jurors will narrow the field of semi-finalists to worthy finalists. They are given eight weeks to assess vehicles, after which the final scoring will commence, determining the 2022 SA Car of the Year.

“The overall 2020 SA Car of the Year winner remains the most coveted of all automotive competition titles in South Africa and enjoys international recognition,” concludes Eagle.

https://bit.ly/3fKY7EF

Colin-on-Cars - How the (new) Beetle became a pop icon

Every generation finds nostalgia for a time when many of its members were just being born. It’s how young adults in the ‘90s found the ‘70s fascinating, and how the styles and trends of the ‘80s and ‘90s have enjoyed their own revival in the years since.

Generation Z has kept this streak alive in recent months with a boom for all things #Y2K – a unique historical marker that’s become something of a touchstone for a simpler, happier time, even if those old enough to experience it don’t share that point of view.

Renewed

Part of this nostalgia for turn of the century culture has manifested in a renewed appreciation of one of the most unique cars of the era – the Volkswagen Beetle.

We asked Freeman Thomas, half of the design duo behind the Beetle and current CEO of Meyers Manx, how the iconic design has maintained a pop-culture edge through the years.

Originally conceived as an electric car in 1993, the New Beetle started as a small-scale model captured with a photo shoot on the sunny beaches of California before being greenlit as an auto-show concept car.

Concept

At the 1994 Detroit Auto Show, Volkswagen unveiled ‘Concept One’ a nostalgic concept car that paid homage to the original Beetle while offering a modern, front-engine chassis. The car was revealed with a sentimental video asking viewers to “remember when…,” hearkening to the golden age of the original Beetle.

“The journalists were all tearing up ,” says Thomas. “The overwhelming response from the press was so big that they would not leave the show stand and go to other press conferences, they wanted to see if Volkswagen would actually build the Beetle.”

Approved

After immense success at the Detroit Auto Show, Concept One was approved for production and Thomas and his team designed every interior and exterior detail. They took the original Beetle down to its most geometric elements—the three arches— and were inspired by industrial design to mix Bauhaus flavours with warm character design, making the New Beetle stylish and approachable.

They wanted to go forward with a design that brought in modernity rather than relying on the shapes and lines of the past.

The original interior of the vehicle reflected its exterior body lines, featuring a simple arched instrument panel with aquamarine-coloured dials inspired by glistening swimming pools of California. Thomas designed the famous flower vase in Concept One as a bit of humanity for each vehicle and as a tribute to the porcelain Rosenthal bud vases in the original models.

Memories

“Everybody has their own Volkswagen Beetle story,” says Thomas. “Memories based not just off the charisma of the design but the reliability of the vehicle and it represented Volkswagen’s philosophy of how to build, design and sell a vehicle.”

Introduced to consumers in model year 1998, the New Beetle was immediately popular. In 2003, the cabrio model was introduced and once again inspired by a mixture of modernity and nostalgia. Thomas and team designed the cabrio model’s rag top to fold down and sit on the rear of the vehicle in a way reminiscent of original convertibles.

Today

The New Beetle was all about cohesive design—one that even today maintains a precise balance between welcoming and whimsical. The vehicle is still the star of music videos, movies and now social-media posts because of its iconic design and the feelings of nostalgia it evokes.

“The means the simplicity of the past, when things were innocent and accessible and fun”, says Thomas. “That’s really what the Beetle represented.”

https://bit.ly/3FNgnIb

Colin-on-Cars - Specials from Porsche Design

Porsche Design is celebrating its 50th anniversary – a golden jubilee indeed – and is doing so by creating a special design for the 911 Edition 50Y and restoring a 911 S 2.4 Targa from its founding year of 1972.

What unites them is the colour scheme, which, in recalling the legendary Chronograph I designed by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in 1972, sees both the exterior and the interior dominated by the colour black.

Alongside them, Porsche Design is also presenting the Chronograph 1 – 1972 Limited Edition.

“When you rethink the function of something, the form sometimes emerges as if by itself” – this was how FA Porsche described what still drives the engineers and designers at Porsche Design today. In 1972, he founded Porsche Design with his brother Hans-Peter.

Exclusive
The 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design is based on the 911 Targa 4 GTS with its six-cylinder boxer engine delivering 353 kW. Strictly limited to 750 cars, it comes with numerous features inspired by the iconic designs of FA Porsche.

In addition to the all-black exterior, the nods to the past include the classic checked Sport-Tex seat centre panels and the red second hand of the Porsche Design Subsecond clock in the Sport Chrono Package, which comes as standard.

Buyers can also purchase a special version of the legendary Chronograph I. Features such as the edition number and wheel-shaped winding rotor underline the connection to the 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design.

“The vision was to produce a historical counterpart to the new 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design,” explains Ulrike Lutz, Head of Porsche Classic. “With the aid of the new Sonderwunsch (special wishes) programme, we were able to implement the idea of a unique pair of vehicles. The job of the designers and works restorers was to carefully transfer the specifications of the new car to the classic.”

The base vehicle, a 911 T 2.4 Targa from 1972, was in a poor condition and was missing some parts. The Porsche Classic experts completely upgraded the engine and chassis to the spec of the S-version. As the top-of-the-range model in its day, it had a displacement of 2 341 cc, which generated 169 kW at 6 500 r/min, and was equipped with mechanical fuel injection.

In tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, this one-of-a-kind vehicle features the same colours as the legendary Chronograph I watch that he designed in 1972, with black dominating both the exterior and interior. Classic side stripes with a Platinum satin finish and integrated Porsche Design lettering adorn the flanks.

 As a special highlight, the Targa roll bar has also been lasered in a Platinum satin finish – a new interpretation of the brushed stainless steel of the original classic model. The Targa lettering is finished in matt black.

Like the special edition model, the grille on the rear engine cover features a ‘Porsche Design 50th Anniversary’ badge with a reproduction of FA Porsche's signature.

For all Porsche and watch fans, Porsche Design is presenting the Chronograph 1 – 1972 Limited Edition with a historical logo and lettering.

Based on the original and limited to 500 examples, it is available in the usual way from Porsche Design. Limited Capsule Collections in the fashion, shoes, sportswear, luggage and accessories ranges, as well as special eyewear collections complete the anniversary offer.

https://bit.ly/3KqhWPQ

Colin-on-Cars - Nasser’s fourth and Toyota’s second win as Sunderland wins bikes for GasGas

Nasser Al Attiyah and Mattieu Baumel’s Proudly South African Gazoo Toyota Hilux have won the 2022 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. British rider Sam Sunderland took his second bike win for GasGas. American Austin Jones and Gustavo Gugelmin stole as last gasp Side by Sides win and Argentine Francisco Contardo and Pablo Vinagre took the UTV win.

Sam Sunderland

Dmitry Sotnikov, Ruslan Akhmadeev and Ilgiz Akhmetzianov led home a 1-2-3-4 as Kamaz dominated the truck race. And Frenchman Alexandre Giroud’s Yamaha took the overall quad win.

Al Attiyah, Baumel Led for the Entire Two Weeks

Al Attiyah and Baumel led the 4,000 km two-week race across the Saudi Arabian Desert from start to finish. They won by 27 minutes from Sebastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin’s BRX Hunter. Yazeed Al Rajhi and Michael Orr’s Hilux was third from Orlando Terranova and Daniel Carreras’ Hunter. SA Gazoo Racing heroes, Giniel de Villiers and Denis Murphy made it three SA Hiluxes in the top five. SA crews, Brian Baragwanath and Leonard Cremer’s Century stole 14th from Shameer Variawa and Danie Stassen’s Hilux on the final stage!

Giniel de Villiers

On two wheels, Sunderland took his second and KTM offshoot GasGas’ maiden win in a close duel throughout. Argentine Pablo Quintanilla’s Honda was second, 3 minutes 27 adrift from Matthias Walkner's KTM, Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren's Yamaha and Honda trio Spaniard Joan Barreda Bort Californian Ricky Brabec and Chilean Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo. 

Andrew Short’s Yamaha was 8th from  top bike rookie, Mason Klein and Toby Price’s KTM. South Africans, Aron Mare’s Hero ended 16th and Bradley Cox 25th on his KTM.

Lategan, Quintanilla Won Final Day

South Africans Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings closed the Dakar off in style for Toyota as they stormed to the final car stage win after fighting Stephane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger’s mighty petrol electric Audi and Baragwanath and Cremer’s Century off in an epic finale. Quintanilla won Fridays bike race from Brabec, Price, Florimo and Barreda and Klein, with Sunderland ninth. Francisco Moreno took the quad stage. 

Hein Lategan

Al Attiyah and Baumel’s Hilux took the advantage at the New Year’s Day Prologue and never looked back. Critically, they dodged any real problems throughout to deliver a perfect Dakar and score Nasser’s fourth, Mattieu’s third and the Proudly South African Gazoo Racing Toyota Hilux's second Dakar victories. Perhaps surprisingly, Attiyah and Baumel only won two stages throughout. But they were only slightly outside of the top ten once in two weeks of racing.

Loeb and Lurquin were second for all but one day of the race. They won two stages and were second on another two, and only dropped to third on the second of two days they hit trouble. But that was enough to allow Attiyah to escape and leave the World Rally legend short of a Dakar win as he jets off to his next appointment at the Monte Carlo Rally. Al Rajhi and Orr delivered their best Dakar result in third after a consistent run without any real issues. Their best stage result was third on Day 6. Dakar consistency is king!

Giniel de Villiers’ Golden Dakar Record

Terranova and Carreras were sixteenth or better every day, broke into the top ten on day 5 and won a stage en route to Orlando's best ever fourth overall. Giniel has never been out of the Dakar top ten in any of the 19 Dakars he has raced. He and Murphy were taken out of the top 3 on a disastrous Day 7, but bounced back to win day 9 as they fought back to fifth overall. Consistency also favoured Jakub Przygonski and Timo Gottschalk’s rise to sixth overall for Mini. And his 7th top ten in 13 Dakar starts.

Brian Baragwanath

Vladimir Vasilyev and Oleg Uperenko’s BMW was also consistent, only once in the daily top ten, they finished seventh. Best-placed of the Kyalami-built Century CR6s, Mattieu Serradori and Loic Minaudier equalled Mattieu's Dakar best 8th place finish. They fought back from a first day disaster with a best fourth place on Day 5. Best of the Audis, Mattias Ekstrom and Emil Bergkvist won a stage to balance off their issues to end ninth, while another consistent crew, Sebastien Halpern and Bernard Graue’s Mini was top tenth.

For the rest, Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz won two sages as they chased back to 11th, Stephane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger one. Their petrol-electric Audi RS Q e-Trons shook off early issues to deliver ominous pace on debut with four stage wins on debut. Triple South African champions, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings were the only other car stage winners with double day wins, after they took up water carrying duty following early issues with their Proudly South African Hilux. They fought back to a provisional 32nd.

Baragwanath, Variyawa Both in Top 20

Outside the top ten, South African crews Baragwanath and Cremer’s SA built Century CR6 passed Variyawa and Stassen’s Gazoo Hilux for 15th in the final stage! Brian and Leonard had a troubled start and fought back from 44th on Day 1, Variyawa and Stassen has another consistent run as they rose from 29th to 14th. Chris Visser and Rodney Burke ran in the top ten on several occasions, but a difficult stage 8 dropped them down the order to end up a commendable 29th in their Century.

Fellow SA Cross Country regulars, Ernest Roberts and Henry Kohne’s Century CR6 endured two tough days, but soldiered on to 38th. And a fine car rookie second overall. Fellow Century rookies, Schalk Burger and Henk Janse van Vuuren had an incredible adventure to overcome a disastrous Day 3 as they came to grips with their brand new car to end 63rd. SA navigators, Taye Perry guided Dakar bike legend Cyril Despres’ Peugeot to 18th, while Ryan Bland read notes for Daniel Schroder to 36th in their SA-built Red Lined VK50.

Both Toyota and Hunter clearly benefited Dakar’s new fat tyre, long travel suspension T1+ rules. As well as the Toyota’s switch from V8 to turbo V6 power. Toyota won four stages, Hunter three, as both teams endured far fewer punctures en route to the top five places. But the all-new Audis also won four stages as they grew in stature through the race to deliver ominous petrol-electric pace. They will be significant rivals in future. Century however slipped, in part thanks to their rivals’ 4x4 rule breaks. Time for a turbo V6, perhaps?

GasGas Came, Saw & Conquered the Bikes

Anton Mare

Moving over to the bikes, GasGas came, saw and conquered. But that was easier said than done as Dakar once again delivered wildly varying day to day results. The top riders home on one day were inevitably severely compromised on the next, and two different groups of riders inevitably emerged in front, every second day. GasGas rider Daniel Sanders won the opening two stages, before teammate Sunderland moved ahead to lead through to Day 6. He dropped back to fifth after a tough day 7, before fighting back.

The overall lead then changed daily as Sunderland, Mattias Walkner and Adrien van Beveren took turns out front. But a tough eleventh day saw Sunderland emerge on top from Pablo Quintanilla, Walkner, van Beveren, Barreda and Ricky Brabec. Sunderland  went on to take his second and GasGas' maiden Dakar wins. He only one won stage on Day 8, benefiting his low starting order.Honda teammates  Barreda,  Jose Flormino and Sanders each won two stages, and Hero rider Joaquin Rodriguez, KTM men Price, and Benavides and Quintanilla one each. 

MotoGP refugee rookie Danilo Petrucci spectacularly won a day too, ahead of Botswana hero Ross Branch. Ross crashed the following day and bravely rejoined the day after, but opted to stop a day later. South African Aron Mare only found out he’d substitute Hero rider Franco Caimi a week before the start. Still, he started off in the top 10 and ran within the top 20 throughout to end up a creditable 16th overall on his second Dakar.

SA Champion, Rookie Cox Impressed

SA Cross Country champion, Dakar rookie Bradley Cox teased the top ten throughout the first week, but a tough break after damaging his bike and struggling home on day 9 dropped him out of the top 20. He soldiered on to finish 24th and third among the rookies on debut. Four Southern Africans raced in the no assistance Original class. Rookie 2020 SA OR1 Cross Country champion Charan Moore had a consistent run within the top 40 throughout to 34th overall, 8th among the rookies and fourth and top rookie in Original.

Bradley Cox

Botswana rider John Kelly delivered a consistent performance to rise from 62nd to 46th overall through the two weeks of Dakar. He ended seventh and second rookie home in Original. Ever popular SA rider Stuart Gregory was 65th overall and a fine 13th in Original. Another SA rookie, Werner Kennedy picked up places daily to climb from 111th to 88th overall and 22nd in Original. Swazi rider Werner Terblanche started 113rd and finished 81st. Mozambican Paulo Oliveira stopped on the penultimate day but rejoined to finish 116th.

Frenchman Alexandre Giroud survived to take the quad victory. He moved ahead on Day 5 and stayed there to take an easy win. Most rivals retired to leave Argentine Francisco Moreno and Pole Wisniewski to pick up the pieces in second and third among the nine finishers. Argentine Francisco Contardo and Pablo Vinagre took an easy UTV win from Sebastian Eriksson and Wouter Rosegaar and Cristina Gutierrez and Francois Cazalet. SA Cross Country regular, Dubai's Thomas Bell and Bruno Jacomy ended 8th. 

Dmitry Sotnikov

Dakar: Where to Now?

It was far tighter in the Side by Sides as American Austin Jones and Gustavo Gugelmin stole the win from Spaniards Gerard Farres Guell in the final stage, with Poles Marek Goczal and Szymon Gospodarczyk third. SA crew Geoff Minnitt and Siegfried Rousseau retired after a crash on Day 6. Last but not least, Kamaz uttely dominated the trucks as Russian crews Dmitry Sotnikov, Ruslan Akhmadeev and Ilgiz Akhmetzianov led home a 1-2-3-4 from compatriot drivers Eduard Nikolaev, Anton Shiboliev and Anrey Karginov.

409 machines started the Dakar including 89 cars, 144 motorcycles, 95 UTVs and Side by Sides, 20 quads and 56 trucks. 73 cars, Two weeks later, 84 cars, 124 bikes, nine quads, 82 lightweight vehicles and 50 trucks remained, although several competitors took advantage of new joker rules to rejoin this year.

Dakar 2022 however raced under a cloud amid French government calls to can the event following an alleged terrorist bomb blast that hurt a French competitor before the race on the first morning. That may well call Saudi Arabia’s future as Dakar's host, leading to speculation about where, exactly the 2022 race may happen. Southern Africa, perhaps? Now would a Dakar through South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Namibia be a New Year’s treat. That is merely speculation. But pretty cool speculation at it... 

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Dakar 2022 Daily News

For further information please contact info@motorsportmedia.co.za

https://bit.ly/3A11hxj

Colin-on-Cars - Proudly SA Hilux 164 km away from victory as bike lead changes

Dakar's penultimate day of racing around the Arabian Desert town of Bisha was static among the cars. Carlos Sainz took Audi’s fourth stage as overall leader Nasser Al Attiyah guarded his 28 minute lead over Sebastien Loeb into the final day.

Nasser Al-Attiyah guarding his precious lead

But the bike race was dramatic.

Minutes

The virtual overall lead changed twice within a matter of minutes as Sam Sunderland stormed ahead, only to be pipped at the post by Kevin Benavides in the day’s final sector. Sunderland however re-took the overall lead with just 164 km left to race.

Sam Sunderland

Sainz, who complained about his Audi Sport RS Q e-tron’s lack of parity before the race, and and Lucas Cruz took command of the day from the outset.

Future

Far from a lack, his pace was instead ominous for the future as he duly powered to his 42nd and the revolutionary petrol-electric machine’s second stage win on the trot. It was also Audi's fourth win in its maiden Dakar and a positive sign for the team for the future, considering the new car had never raced before.

Carlos Sainz

Luciano Alvarez and Armand Monelon’s Toyota Hilux was best of the rest ahead of ever consistent rookie Audi crew Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist. Nani Rome and Alex Haro’s BRX Hunter, Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy’s Gazoo Hilux and Stephane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger’s Audi followed.

Next came overall leaders, Al Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel’s Proudly South African Hilux. They took advantage of rivals Sebastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin’s Hunter's slow final sector to open their overall lead to over 33 minutes. Which includes a bonus 5 minutes after Loeb suffered a liaison speeding penalty.

Fifth

It was a good day for de Villiers and Murphy, who moved back into fifth overall behind Saudi home hero Yazeed Al Rajhi and Michael Orr’s Hilux, and Orlando Terranova and Daniel Carreras' BRX Hunter.

Giniel De Villiers

Fellow South Africans, Shameer Variawa and Danie Stassen’s Gazoo Hilux in 12th and Brian Baragwanath and Leonard Cremer’s SA built Century CR6 provisionally 13th also had positive runs, as they continued in their fight over 14th overall.

It was less successful for Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings. They had to stop to remedy an issue on the fourth Gazoo Hilux and were running 43rd behind the Centuries of compatriots Chris Visser and Rodney Burke, and Ernest Roberts and Henry Kohne at the time of writing.

Schalk Burger and Henk Janse van Vuuren followed in 50th, while SA navigators, Taye Perry was 35th, reading notes in Cyril Despres’ Peugeot and Ryan Bland 44th alongside Daniel Schroeder in their SA-built Red-Lined VK50.

Dramatic

The bike race began in dramatic fashion. A disastrous start saw overnight leader, Adrien van Beveren’s Yamaha lose 15 minutes in the first sector. That allowed quickest man through, Matthias Walkner’s KTM to move into the overall lead.

But only until Sam Sunderland checked through and moved ahead on his Gas Gas. So Sunderland led the day and overall. But it was not to be. Reigning champion Kevin Benavides had taken his joker to rejoin after retiring with a broken engine on his KTM, and pip Sunderland by 4 seconds.

Joaquin Rodrigues' Hero was third home ahead of Walkner and Honda trio Ricky Brabec, Pablo Quintanilla and Jose Cornejo Florimo. All of them started well outside of the top ten on a day that punished the front runners.

The first four away, Toby Price’s KTM ended up 28th, Luciano Benavides’ Husqvarna 26th, Juan Barreda’s Honda 21st and overnight leader van Beveren 15th. And while he led Sunderland, Quintailla and Walkner at the outset, it was all change as Sundeland led Quintailla, Walkner and van Beveren by the end of play.

Service

Bradley Cox was best of the South Africans in 20th on his KTM and Aron Mare's Hero 25th. Original no service class quartet, Charan Moore was 40th and 4th in class, Botswana’s John Kelly 51st overall and 8th in Original, Stuart Gregory 86th and 18th in class and Werner Kennedy 97th overall and 22nd in Original.

Swaziland’s Walter Terblanche was still running 88th and Mozambican Paulo Oliveira 120th. Mare starts the final day 16th, Cox 35th, Moore 34th, Kelly 45th and Gregory 64th.

Dominant quad leader Alex Giroud cruised through the stage as Marcelo Medeiros took another stage win over the seven remaining riders. UTV leader Seth Quintero won the day and side-by-side leader Austin Jones was controlling his position running fourth on the day.

Truck leader Sotnikov shadowed teammates Karginov and Nikolaiev in yet another dominant Kamaz 1-2-3. All that remains after 3,830 km of racing in Dakar 2022, is the final 164 run to Jeddah on Friday. But remember, Dakar is never over, 'til it’s over! 

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Dakar 2022 Daily News

For further information please contact info@motorsportmedia.co.za

https://bit.ly/3zXf7AQ

Colin-on-Cars - Proudly South African Gazoo Hilux leads cars, but it's all change in the bikes

Proudly South African Toyota Gazoo Racing stars Nasser Al Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel kept an iron fist on their overall 2022 Dakar Rally lead on Day 10 in Saudi Arabia. Petrol-electric Audi duo Stephane Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz dominated the day's 384 km car race to Bisha.

Stephane Peterhansel

KTM rider Toby Price meanwhile made up for a disastrous day for KTM by winning Wednesday’s race. But Yamaha’s Adrien van Beveren moved back into the 2 wheeler lead.

Dominate

While it was all about the Toyotas among the cars Tuesday, it was the chance of the Audi Sport RS Q e-trons to dominate on Wednesday as the Hiluxes opened the road. It may have taken Mr Dakar a while, but Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger finally scored his 49th Dakar day win.

They fought teammates Sainz and Lucas Cruz off for the honour. That moved Peterhansel to just one stage win short of Dakar legend Ari Vatanen’s record 50 stage victories in Audi’s third stage win of 2022.

Orlando Terranova and Daniel Carreras came home third in their BRX Hunter, ahead of the best of the South Africans, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings’ Gazoo Toyota Hilux. Sebastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin’s Hunter was next from Jakub Przygonski and Timo Gottschalk’s Mini.

Henk Lategan

Penalty

Overall leaders Al Attiyah and Baumel’s Gazoo Hilux in seventh, to keep their lead to Loeb and Lurquin above 30 minutes. That despite a 5 minute seatbelt penalty overnight. Yazeed Al Rajhi and Michael Orr’s Hilux is third from Terranova and Przygonski.

Tuesday winners, SA crew Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy’s Gazoo Hilux had a tougher day in 15th, as they slipped to sixth overall behind Przygonski. Compatriots, Brian Baragwanath and Leonard Cremer’s SA built Century CR6 was 20th, Chris Visser and Rodney Burke’s similar machine 22nd and Shameer Variawa and Danie Stassen’s Gazoo Hilux 23rd. Century pair, Ernest Roberts and Henry Kohne were 32nd and Schalk Burger and Henk Janse van Vuuren 47th.

SA navigators, Taye Perry ended 19th and Ryan Bland 57th.

Toby Price

Wednesday claimed another major bike scalp as 2021 winner and an overall contender for 2022 honours, Kevin Benavides retired with mechanical problems. KTM’s day went even worse, when overnight leader lost over seven minutes, something he could ill afford in such a tight race.

Front

Polish privateer Maciej Gizema was the surprise leader early on in a close race, before the big guns took over at the front. Juan Barreda's Honda then led until mid distance, when teammate Pablo Quintanilla took over. 

But Toby Price was having none of it and made up for KTM’s earlier disappointment to move ahead later in the day and take a two minute win. Luciano Benavides’ Husqvarna was second from Barreda, van Beveren's Yamaha, Lorenzo Santolino's Sherco and Andrew Short's Yamaha after Quintanilla also lost time later on.

The upshot of that is that Adrien van Beveren has moved back into a 5 minute bike lead over Sam Sunderland’s Gas Gas, Quintailla, Walkner, Barreda and Price.

Rookie

South African Aron Mare finished 16th on his Hero and sits 17th overall. His rookie compatriot, Bradley Cox was 30th on the day and sits 27th overall on his KTM. Original class quartet, SA rookie, Charan Moore was 46th and sixth in the no-service category, and Botswana's John Kelly 46th and 7th in class.

Fellow ‘Malle Moto’ SA men, Stuart Gregory was 65th overall and 16th in class and Werner Kennedy 94th overall and 23rd in Original. Swaziland’s Walter Terblanche was 87th and Mozambican Paulo Oliveira 100th on the day.

In the other Dakar classes, Marcelo Medeiros took the quad win in a decimated field. Overall leader Alex Giroud cruised to third after closest rival Pablo Copetti also hit trouble.

Trucks

Overall leader Austin Jones maintained a watching brief in the Side by Sides, while new UTV leader Seth Quintero led Christinia Gutierrez home. And overall leader Sotnikov was in charge of a Kamaz 1-2-3-4 among the trucks.

Just 510 kilometres of racing remain of the 4,000 km Dakar 2022 over the final two days. Thursday is a 346 km blast around Bisha, before the final 164 run to Jeddah on Friday.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Dakar 2022 Daily News

For further information please contact info@motorsportmedia.co.za

https://bit.ly/3fgbIUp

Colin-on-Cars - Classic event attracting very special cars

Rare, precious and beautiful classic sportscars are set to take to the roads of the Western Cape in March when the Cape 1000 gets under way.

South Africa’s own ‘Mille Miglia’-styled classic car event was announced late last year and organiser, Ross Crichton says: “We are very pleased with the response to our call for entries. For this inaugural 1000 Mile Tribute event we decided on a limit of 60 cars, and I’m pleased to announce that just about half of those available slots have already been snapped up!”

Confirmed

Some of the exotic cars already confirmed to compete in the four categories of event, which pays homage to the iconic Mille Miglia, a historic 1 000-mile race that took place in Italy from 1927 to 1957, include a super-rare 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, a 1955 Jaguar XK140 OTS, 1974 Porsche 911 2.7 RS and even what is arguably the most iconic of all supercars, a 1990 Ferrari F40.

The event, which kicks off with registration at the V&A Waterfront on Tuesday, March 8, will be run over the course of four days (five nights). It will include regularity stages, non-competitive track events and “a healthy dose of grand touring” according to the route planners, Dave Alexander and Di Dougmore.

Limited

Entries are limited to certain brands, models and by invitation or application (and subject to approval by the admissions committee to ensure a line-up of top-end entrants).

The categories are:

- 1927-1957: Mille Miglia Specific

- Pre-1976: Classic

- 1977-1996: Modern Classic

- 1997-2021: Sports

The action begins when the 60 glamorous vehicles leave the V&A Waterfront on Wednesday, March 9 and head for Hermanus along some of South Africa’s most scenic coastal routes.

The following day’s drive takes entrants from Hermanus to the postcard-pretty surrounds of Franschhoek while Day 3 leads competitors to St. Helena Bay on the West Coast, before returning to Cape Town the following day.

Negotiated

“We call on any automotive enthusiast interested in participating in this exclusive event to get in touch as soon as possible to avoid disappointment,” says Crichton. “We have also negotiated special rates for owners who need to transport competing vehicles from Johannesburg to Cape Town and back.”

The Cape 1000 is organised by Super Car Lifestyle (which also hosts the Round Table Cannonball Run Africa, Concours South Africa etc.) together with Cars.co.za, SCL Travel and Silvercrest Super Car Insurance.

Beneficiaries of the Cape 1000 include the Motorsport Legends Benevolent Fund and Quadpara Association of South Africa (QASA).

Registrations are now open on www.cape1000.com or by contacting info@cape1000.com. Entries close on  January 24.

https://bit.ly/3Gk7qHp

Colin-on-Cars - De Villiers beats Lategan as Attiyah extends overall lead in third

Tuesday’s eighth Dakar Rally 2022 proved the best ever from a South African point of view. Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy led teammates Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings and overall leaders Nasser Al Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel to a delightful Gazoo Toyota Hilux 1-2-3.

Giniel de Villiers

Al Attiyah and Baumel meanwhile consolidated their rally lead, while several other South African car and bike crews impressed. Honda rider Jose Florimo won the bike day as Mattias Walkner moved ahead overall for KTM.

Romp

It was a purple day on the Dakar time sheets for the Proudly South African team. Lategan and Cummings led the way early on, before de Villiers and Murphy took over up front after 120 km of the mountainous 287 km romp around Wadi Ad-Dawasir.

Giniel went on to take his 18th Dakar stage win by just nine seconds from Henk. Attiyah and Baumel came home a minute adrift, with Monday’s winners Audi RS Q e-Tron rookies Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist next home. Sebastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin’s BRX Hunter was fifth.

Brian Baragwanath

It was a good day all round for South African crews. Brian Baragwanath and Leonard Cremer’s made in SA Century CR6 was 9th, Shameer Variawa and Danie Stassen’s Gazoo Hilux 11th. Three more all-South African Century CR6s, Chris Visser and Rodney Burke ended 27th, Ernest Roberts and Henry Kohne 37th, and Schalk Burger and Henk Janse van Vuuren 44th.

SA navigators, Taye Perry ended 23rd alongside bike legend Cyril Despres in a Peugeot and Ryan Bland 44th with Daniel Schroder in their SA-built Red-Lined VK 50.

Overall

Overall, Al Attiyah and Baumel opened their overall advantage over Loeb and Lurquin, who escaped a time penalty for losing a spare wheel in the desert on Monday with a fine, to almost 40 minutes. Saudi home hero Yazeed Al Rajhi and Michael Orr’s Hilux sat a further 19 minutes adrift in third.

De Villiers and Murphy meanwhile jumped two more places up to fifth, just nine minutes behind Orlando Terranova and Daniel Carreras' BRX Hunter. Variyawa and Stassen sit 14th, Baragwanath and Cremer 16th. 

Tuesday’s bike stage proved a straight fight between Honda teammates, Chilean Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo and Californian Ricky Brabec, who swapped the lead a few times through the day.

Matthias Walkner

Cornejo won, but KTM’s Argentine Honda refugee Kevin Benavides sneaked into second ahead of Brabec late in the day. Another factory KTM man, Mattias Walkner rode in fourth ahead of Spain’s Juan Barreda Bort’s Honda and American Andrew Short’s Yamaha. 

Tough

Overnight leader Sam Sunderland had a tough day in 14th, eight minutes off Flormino’s pace. Which means that he now slips to second, two minutes behind Walkner. Yamaha’s Adrien van Beveren, Honda rider Pablo Quintanilla, Benavides and Barreda are all close enough to benefit any mistakes up front.

South African super sub Aron Mare ended 21st on his Hero and sits 17th overall. It was not a good day for SA rookie Bradley Cox, losing time as he lost an hour in the stage to come home 90th and slip to 27th overall.

Another SA rookie, Charan Moore was 35th overall and second in the no-service Original class. Botswana's John Kelly rode home 46th after breaking into the top 40 earlier in the day, and 7th in Original.

They remain fourth and seventh overall in Original. Fellow ‘Malle Moto’ men, Stuart Gregory was 83rd overall and 17th in class and Werner Kennedy 91st overall and 22nd in Original. They sit 12th and 21st overall in Original. Swaziland’s Walter Terblanche ended 82nd on Monday, Mozambican Paulo Oliveira 113rd.

Quad

In the other Dakar classes, Pablo Copetti beat Marcelo Medeiros to the quad win as Copetti took a couple of minutes out of overall leader Alex Giroud’s half hour advantage.

Overall leader Austin Jones split Goczal brothers Marek and Michel in the Side by Sides and Seth Quintero beat overall leader Francisco Lopez Contardo to lightweight honours. And the Russians remain unbeaten in the tricks, where Nikolaiev took the day ahead of overall leader Sotnikov.

Tuesday’s 384 km race from Wadi Ad Dawasir to Bisha is said to be one of the fastest of Dakar 2022’s 4,000 km of racing through the Saudi Arabian Desert. The Dakar Rally concludes in Jeddah on Friday.

Henk Lategan

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Dakar 2022 Daily News

For further information please contact info@motorsportmedia.co.za

https://bit.ly/31OB9sU