The world of motorsport is famously unforgiving, a truth well understood by the Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) Ford Rally-Raid Team, who experienced both the highs and lows of competitive racing during the demanding back-to-back Rounds 4 and 5 of the South African Rally-Raid Championship in Parys, Free State.
The action kicked off with the INGCO Parys 400 on Friday, 16 August 2024. Reigning Overall Production Vehicle champions Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer (#200) approached the race with steely determination, following a short but intense 1.5km qualifying loop that placed them second on the grid after the Top 10 draw. However, their progress was quickly impeded by the dust of a slower vehicle ahead, and after finally overtaking, a puncture put them back behind the same competitor. The duo ultimately finished the race in a frustrating sixth place.
Meanwhile, their team-mates Lance Woolridge and Kenny Gilbert (#234) faced their own challenges when a suspension joint failure early in the race led to their car rolling. Although the damage was not extensive, the team chose to retire to focus on repairs for the following day’s race.
Saturday’s INGCO Vaal 400 brought a fresh route and renewed vigour for the NWM Ford team. Both Shell-sponsored and EcoBoost V6-powered Ford Rangers were in strong form from the start of the 193km race loops. Gareth and Boyd established an early lead and were 50 seconds ahead of the second-placed Toyota driven by Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings as they entered the mandatory 30-minute service stop.
Their stellar performance continued into the second loop, but disaster struck 60km from the finish when a rock, struck after a flat-out crest, caused a tyre puncture. Despite an impressively quick wheel change, the incident cost them valuable time, relegating them to fourth place, just 01:33 behind the race winners, Lategan and Cummings.
Reflecting on the race, Gareth expressed his frustration: "This has been the story of our season. After a championship-winning year in 2023, we've had the pace, but small setbacks have held us back. The car was outstanding today, and we really pushed the limits. After the puncture, I gave it everything, but with only 60km left, there just wasn't enough time to make up the lost ground."
The NWM team worked tirelessly in near-freezing conditions on Friday night to ensure that Lance and Kenny's Ford Ranger was race-ready for Saturday. Their efforts paid off as the pair made an impressive comeback, battling fiercely for a podium finish. By the end of the first loop, they were in third place, just 22 seconds behind Lategan and Cummings, and 01:12 behind their leading team-mates.
The competition intensified during the second loop, with Lance and Kenny poised for a second-place finish after Gareth and Boyd's unfortunate puncture. However, a last-minute push by the Toyota crew of Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy saw them slip to third by a mere one second.
"It was a tough weekend with the roll on Friday, which gave our team a lot of extra work," Lance remarked. "But the pace and competitiveness of our cars today were really rewarding. With so many top contenders, it was great to secure a podium and end the weekend on a positive note."
NWM Ford team principal Neil Woolridge shared similar sentiments. "Friday didn’t go as planned, despite our strong pace, and it’s disappointing to see Gareth’s win slip away and Lance miss out on second by just one second. However, it was a strong performance overall, and it's encouraging to see how competitive we are."
Unfortunately, the NWM-supported privateer team of Wors Prinsloo and Andre Vermeulen (#241) was unable to compete after a mechanical issue sidelined them before Friday's race began.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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