Stages set for first rally for 2024 – Lifestyle

All wheels are in motion for the great exodus to Swakopmund for the first rally of the year.

The Walvis Bay Motor Club’s (WBMC) Wido Bartsch assured Top Revs that the trip will be worth the while for both participants and spectators.

“We set out nine stages that will cover just under a 100 kilometres, with the liaison stages covering also just under 150 kilometres,” Bartsch says.

While Bartsch was initially doubtful about the number of entries for the first rally of the season, and with teams waiting till the last moment to enter, he is happy that 16 cars will be participating.

“The last entries entered at the last minute, just before the close-off time, I am really thankful for that and I am happy for that,” Bartsch says.

The rally will kick off at Steckel’s Toyota at 10h00 and is expected to finish at around 17h00 at the Swakopmund Adventure Park & Paintball Centre.

The service park will also be on site for technical teams to service and repair the cars.

As in previous years, the Swakop rally is a spectator friendly event, with the Martin Luther, Soutpanne, Daggabos and Nonidas stages promising not to disappoint.

Cars in the S1 and S2 class will participate, while in the off-road or bakkie class CR1 and CR 2 vehicles will be in action.

Some of the names in action are Zachary Martin and with navigator Anique Schoeman in their well prepared white and green VW Polo (S2), Bartsch and Raymond Fourie in yet another Polo, also S2 class, Pieter Greef and JP Robinson in a S1 Toyota Corolla.

In the bakkie class, Lois Bathfield with navigator Johan Steyn in their CR-6 monster in CR 2 class, Ekko Eisenberg and Horazio Rietz in the CR 1 JAC T8 bakkie, while the Bisschoff brothers – Ewald and Hein – in their Toyota Hilux will take part in the CR1 class.

And to show their skills and agility, two all women teams entered. In the CR1 class are Madeleine Koegelenberg and navigator Vivian von Weidts with their Ford Courier, and Stefanie Botha with her navigator and sister Mandi Hugo in a S4 Subaru WRX STi.

This event is sponsored by Steckel’s Toyota, Safewear, Gunite Pools, JP Hydraulics, Seal Consulting Engineering, Hardap Freight Services and Sky-Way, said Bartsch, and like all other sport codes, depends on sponsorships to take place.