Legends take pundits' role
[caption id="attachment_40479" align="alignright" width="200"] SAREL VAN DER MERWE[/caption]
TWO South African legends will be bringing spectators up to date with the latest information during the Volkswagen Rally, which starts at the AutoPavilion today at midday and finishes at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tomorrow.
Regarded by many as the voice of South African motoring, Roger McCleery will commentate on the action with former rally and track icon Sarel van der Merwe on hand to provide both a first-hand perspective and anecdotes from his own career.
McCleery's voice is instantly recognisable from his long tenure on South African radio, covering the motor industry and motorsport fans have long held Van der Merwe to be one of the best drivers this country has ever seen – whether in the dirt or on the track.
The pair will be commentating from a variety of spectator points during the event and their mix of automotive knowledge and history should provide a highly entertaining addition to the event this year.
With the combination of local competitors from the Algoa Rally Club, the field of national competitors, two international teams, and two SA automotive personalities, there is much for motorsport fans to look forward to.
The international entries are from the Volkswagen Sasolracing team.
Regular national rally competitors Hans Weijs jnr and Björn Degandt from Holland and Belgium will be joined by Raimund Baumschlager and his navigator, Klaus Wicha, from Austria and Germany.
Weijs and Degandt lie fourth in the national standings with Weijs particularly keen to experience the challenging stages of the Longmore Forest.
There are a total of 15 stages, seven taking place today and eight tomorrow, with 12 on gravel (five in the Longmore Forest), two on tar, and one a combination of tar and paving.
The total special stage distance is about 180km out of a total rally route distance of about 500km.
This includes three new stages and gravel stage adjustments.
With more than 50 cars competing in three categories – S2000, S1600 and NRC2 – Algoa Rally Club chairman Neville Bartle is confident it will be a spectator spectacle.
"We expect a field of 25 Algoa Rally Club entries.
"It looks like this will be one of our biggest fields this year and we aim to put on a good show for the fans," Bartle said.
The first car is expected to finish the 1.4km final stage at 2.15pm and a podium prize-giving ceremony will take place at the stadium at 4.15pm on Saturday. - Bobby Cheetham and Tremaine van Aardt
