The South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) is gearing up for the second half of the 2024 season with two back-to-back races in Parys, Free State, this weekend. The Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) Ford Rally-Raid Team is determined to capitalise on this opportunity to accumulate vital points.
This double-header weekend, the only one of its kind in the 2024 season, will see competitors tackle approximately 800 km of challenging terrain, with the INGCO Parys 400 on Friday and the INGCO Vaal 400 on Saturday. The stakes are high, as double points are on offer, which prove decisive in the battle for the championship as the season edges towards its conclusion in November.
#Lance Woolridge and Kenny GilbertLance Woolridge and Kenny Gilbert, driving the EcoBoost-powered and Shell-sponsored Ranger (#234), are currently leading the NWM Ford charge. After an impressive performance at the Safari 1000 marathon event in June, where they secured second place, they now sit third in the Overall Production Vehicle standings. They are just seven points behind Toyota’s Giniel de Villiers and Elvéne Vonk and 23 points behind the current leaders, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (Toyota).
In the fiercely contested Ultimate (T1+) class, Lance and Kenny are tied for third place with Toyota’s Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy. With every point crucial, the competition over the two days promises to be intense.
Reigning champions Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer (#200) have had a challenging start to the season, but their determination and speed saw them finish fourth overall in the previous round, boosting them to sixth in the overall standings and seventh in the Ultimate class. With only a few points separating them from their rivals, Gareth and Boyd are focused on regaining ground in their NWM Ford Ranger.
#Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer"We’ve traditionally done well at the Parys events and are excited to push our two Rangers to their limits," said Neil Woolridge, NWM Ford team principal. "After the tough Safari 1000 marathon, we’ve stripped the cars down and thoroughly prepared them for the second half of the season. With the unique challenge of back-to-back races, it’s crucial that we secure good points on Friday without taking unnecessary risks, so we’re in a strong position for Saturday."
Wors Prinsloo and Andre Vermeulen (#241), part of the NWM-supported privateer team, had a strong showing at the last race in their newly upgraded NWM Ford Ranger. Having consistently scored points throughout the season, they are eager to climb higher in the championship standings from their current 11th overall and ninth in the Ultimate class.
#Ford seeking to gain valuable pointsThe race weekend will be based at the Stonehenge River Lodge in Parys, which will serve as both the race headquarters and the service park. The action kicks off with Round 4, the INGCO Parys 400, on Friday, beginning with a 15 km sprint qualifying loop at 07:10, followed by the main 175 km race at 08:30. Saturday will see Round 5, the INGCO Vaal 400, with a 10 km qualifying sprint and two loops of 190 km each.
Fans can stay connected and follow the action by tracking the crews’ positions throughout the races using the RallySafe app, available for download on iOS and Android devices.
Images: Colin Mileman
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