WINDHOEK – Wilro Dippenaar and his navigator Riaan van der Westhuizen over the weekend once again showed the rest of their competitors and fans why they are Namibia’s top rally team.
The duo, who won the Cymot Rally last year, won the Hemco Paints Rally with a time of one hour, 13 minutes and 25 seconds (01:13:25).
The Hemco Paints Rally, which replaced the Cymot Rally, was staged at the Tony Rust Race Track, east of the capital under the organisation of the Windhoek Motor Club (WMC).
The rally is the brainchild of Dick Cornelissen from a local panel beating and spray-painting shop in Windhoek. For the past three years, Cymot sponsored the race.
Dippenaar on Saturday morning told Nampa that despite a small technical problem with their car, they were doing fine in the various stages of the rally.
“The stages so far are all good,” he said.
The high temperatures combined with no wind on Friday night made the initial stages difficult for drivers, as the dust limited visibility while driving at a high speed through the terrain and various stages.
Richard Slamet and Wietz Coetzee (navigator) ended second overall with a time of 01:16:29. Their time also ensured that they ended in first place in the S4 Class.
“Dust was a big factor on Friday night as there was hardly any wind, so we tried to take Friday night’s stages a little easier,” Slamet said.
This was a wise decision as it ensured that they kept their car in the race and did not damage the vehicle.
Saturday, they went all out, Slamet said, ensuring their overall second place and first finish in their class.
The Hemco Paint Rally, as with all other rallies, is tough on both man and machine and unlike in other motorsports, rally cars need to be serviced and repaired more in the field due to the high speed and rough terrains the teams take their cars on to.
This year, from the 11 entries, only eight managed to complete the 12 stages over a distance of 110 kilometres.
Meanwhile, speaking to this news agency on the sideline of the event, WMC chairperson, Chris Liebenberg said the 2015 Total Tara Rally will once again feature top class drivers from South Africa and Namibia, as with the previous events.
Liebenberg said the official launch of the 2015 Total Tara Rally will take place in Windhoek this week. The dates set for the Total Tara is 19 to 21 November.
The results of the Hemco Rally are as follows:
1. Wilro Dippenaar and Riaan van der Westhuizen – Class 3 (1:13:25)
2. Richard Slamet and Wiets Coetzee – Class S4 (1:16:29)
3. Cecil Koortz and Oscar Schoombee – Class S2 (1:22:37)
4. Allan Martin and Berto Mostert – Class S4 (1:22:57)
5. Bertie Smit and Willem Wessels – Class OR (1:25:07)
6. Hanre Myburgh and Geon Ellis – Class S2 (1:26:25)
7. Pieter Greeff and Steven Robinson – Class OR (1:34:48)
8. Peer Rohm and Eugene Marais – Class S1 (1:40:04). – Nampa
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