The South African Rally Championship, running on Dunlop tyres, saw a significant shift in momentum after the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Ermelo Rally this past weekend. Benjamin Habig and Barry White, driving their NRC1 Volkswagen Polo, emerged with a double victory, a result that has shaken up the title chase.
Their campaign began with a strong performance on Friday during Round 5. Habig and White secured a stage win, building a narrow two-second lead over the Mazda 2 of Jono van Wyk and Nico Swartz. However, their main rivals were forced to retire in the third stage due to an engine issue, handing a clear advantage to the Volkswagen pair. This development pushed Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle in their Toyota Starlet into second position, as they worked to find their pace over the subsequent stages.
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The second day of competition on Saturday for Round 6 presented a different challenge. The repaired Mazda of van Wyk and Swartz returned with determination, taking three consecutive stage wins and applying pressure to the leading Polo. Habig and White responded by clinching the fifth stage. The running order was then disrupted by Paul van Niekerk and Willemjan Human, whose NRC2 Volkswagen Polo took unexpected wins in two stages before their own retirement.
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The battle for the overall daily victory came down to the final stages. Habig and White managed to secure the last two tests, edging out their Mazda rivals to take the day by a margin of fourteen seconds. Behind them, Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle secured a third-place finish, focusing on the development of their Starlet. The NRC2 class was won by Anton Raaths and Kes Naidoo in their Ford Escort Cosworth.
This double victory for Habig and White, contrasted with van Wyk and Swartz’s retirement and a second place, has propelled the Volkswagen team into the championship lead as the season reaches its midway point. The championship now moves to Fouriesburg in the Free State for Rounds 7 and 8, scheduled for the weekend of 26 September.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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