The INGCO Parys 400 will launch the 2026 South African Rally Raid Championship this weekend with a strong mix of young talent, new pairings, proven champions and international contenders all looking to make an early statement.
Taking place on 19 and 20 June around the Vaal River area in the Free State, the season opener will bring rally-raid machinery back to the riverside town of Parys for almost 450 kilometres of high-intensity racing. Fast farm roads, technical sections and demanding terrain will combine to create a proper early test of speed, concentration, mechanical sympathy and teamwork.
At the front of the Century Racing Factory Team effort, Brian Baragwanath and Leonard Cremer return to full-time national action in the Century Racing CR6 T after missing the 2025 season. Baragwanath, a Dakar stage winner and multiple SARRC race winner, brings proven pace and experience to the opening round and is expected to be one of the major contenders for overall honours.
Alongside them, Jayden Els begins a new chapter with Century Racing, continuing his partnership with co-driver Johann Swemmer in the Century Racing CR7. After a tough outing at Parys last year, the young crew returns with more experience and a clear target: turn raw speed into a strong result at the first round of the season.
The defending SARRC champions, Saood Variawa and new co-driver Charan Moore, start their title defence in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux IMT EVO. Variawa arrives with recent winning momentum after taking victory at the Jordan Baja in February, while Moore brings significant rally-raid experience of his own, including a background as a motorcycle competitor and victory in the Original by Motul category at the 2023 Dakar Rally.
There will also be added family interest on the grid, with Saood’s younger brother, Sa’aad Variawa, contesting only his third national event. After making his debut in Vryheid last year, he will now line up alongside Wade Harris, adding another young name to watch in a field already full of promise.
Another family story comes from the Castrol NWM Ford Rally Raid Team, where Mike and Luke Lawlor will tackle their first championship round together in Parys. The father-and-son pairing, who moved across from motocross and enduro, will compete in a Ford prepared by Neil Woolridge Motorsport, joining a broader NWM squad that includes Wors Prinsloo / André Vermeulen and Danie Ludick / Denzil Williamson.
The experienced names are just as important. Former multiple champion Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy will lead the #TeamHilux Rally Raid charge in the DKR Hilux T1+ EVO after finishing on the Parys podium in 2025. The Blignaut brothers, Fouché and Bertus, also return with ambitions of another strong result and will be among the crews closely watched from the start.
The battle for the front is expected to include a powerful cast, with names such as Guy Botterill / Oriol Mena Valdearcos and Gareth Woolridge adding further depth to an already highly competitive entry.
The international presence also adds intrigue to the opening round. German driver Daniel Schröder will team up with Juan Mohr in the WCT VW Amarok, while Manfred Schröder also joins the field. Dutch crews Victor Versteijnen / Petrus van Dal and Henk Klaassen / Pim Klaassen return to South African competition, strengthening the international flavour and adding another layer to the fight.
Spectators will have free access to race headquarters and designated viewing points around Parys, with food stalls, activations and live commentary creating a full family event. VIP hospitality and helicopter flips will also offer a closer look at the action from above.
Fans can follow live tracking and results through the RallySafe App and keep up with news, images and video on the South African Rally Raid Championship social media channels.
As the 2026 South African Rally Raid Championship begins on the banks of the Vaal, Parys will provide the first answer of the season: will the young superstars, new pairings or seasoned veterans draw first blood?
Source: SARRC
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