The 53rd M+Z Motors Tara rally that ended on Saturday will be on the map again next year after the main sponsor committed support towards this flagship rally for 2024.
The Tara, as it is commonly known, has a long history and dates back to 1968. This year’s edition saw 17 teams enter in various classes.
Planning and putting together such a two-day rally is not an easy task, as the organising team has to plan and set out stages, negotiate with landowners to host some of the stages, as well as safety officials and medics, to mention a few.
This year welcomed new teams (rookies) to the 2023 Tara, the likes of Ekko Eisenberg and navigator Horazio ‘Rassie’ Rietz with their JAC Lexus V8 engine and Laic Bathfield with navigator Johan Steyn in a Dakar spec CR-6 vehicle.
But it was all eyes on the two contenders, Allan Martin and teammate Maretha Olivier and Wilro Dippenaar with his “navi” Carolyn Swan, to take the podium. It was not an easy task for any of the two teams throughout the race, as they finished each stage literally seconds from each other.
Both Dippenaar and Martin raced each other in the S4 class. Dippenaar entered with a Ford Fiesta R5 and Martin with his well known Skoda R5.
“It was good, specially today and we are happy to get to the end (finishing line); it was a difficult one, but it came out good.” Dippenaar said after the race.
Martin said the race was one for the books.
“It was tough, it was not easy. I really enjoyed being pushed by Wilro for the whole day. It was insane up and down. He leads, I lead then he leads,” Martin said.
But at the end, there can only be one winner.
Dippenaar managed to complete the Tara three times – the only Namibian who can boast that achievement.
He took his first podium position in 2011 (Toyota Run-X S2000), then again in 2017 (Toyota Run-X S200) and the 53rd Tara belongs to him once again. Dippenaar hails from a racing family, as his brother Jandre also takes part in motorsport.
Dippies, his father, managed to finish the Tara as navigator in 1984 and 1985, with Laurence Koch as driver.
The dream of any driver is to finish the Tara three times consecutively, but during the 53 years of Tara’ing no one could achieve that. Most drivers only managed to do it twice in a row. The only person who managed to finish it four times is South African Japie van Niekerk in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018 – a dream still standing for many aspirant Tara teams.
In the off-road class (CR1) Rian Kritzinger and navigator Ian Stander, in a Nissan Hardbody, finished in first place.
“What an event, awesome organisation and we enjoyed it a lot,” Kritzinger said.
“Our main goal was to bring the car back in one piece,” Rietz said after coming in second place.
Eisenberg and Rietz cleared all stages as rookies. This was their very first time in a rally car. Apart from two minor technical issues, they managed their specially built JAC with a Lexus engine under the bonnet safely home.
This year’s Tara was not as harsh on man and machine as only four cars did not make it to the finish line, unlike in the past when almost half of the entrants fell out due to various reasons.
The organisers also thanked the community and farmers surrounding Rehoboth for their support and allowing their roads to be used as stages.
The Tara was made possible by M+Z Motors as the main sponsor, while institutions like Savannah Car Hire, Super Tyres, Motor Media Namibia, Van Wyk Petroleum, CCB, Crisis Response, Namibia Joinery Supplies, Team Havenga and Kosmos 94.1 made the 53rd edition possible.
TARA FACT SHEET
The Tara, later known as the Total Tara, was designed by Dennis Kent in 1969. It got its name from Kent’s Siamese cat Tara that walked through a pot of ink and left its paw marks all over the notes. Hence, the name Tara.
It was initially introduced as an endurance race with the first routes towards the Gamsberg and Spreetshoogte passes with the refuelling at Nauchas.
The Tara’s first team to win the gruelling rally was Chris Liebenberg and Andre de Jager in a Renault Gordini.
In the past, the Tara drew teams from Kenya, Angola, Zambia and South Africa.
Most participants will tell you that you never win a Tara, you conquer it, while every minute and second spent on a Tara is worth the while.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
