New stars born & another T1 win in a positive week all-round
Red-Lined Motorsport returned victorious from the South African Safari Rally over the past week. But it was a far bigger event in so many ways for the team in South Africa’s maiden World Rally Raid Championship round. The venerable Red-Lined VK-56 may have added to its incredible international record of T1 Adventure class wins, but it was the team’s showing with a pair of thrilling young guns aboard its Red-Liner REVO T1+ GT-Rs in the top Ultimate class, that really had tongues wagging at the Sun City race.
”Our Red-Lined young gun crew of Jayden Els and Johann Swemmer had the world sitting up and asking who on earth they were as they lit up the Safari Rally leaderboard in our factory REVO GT-R,” Red-Lined team principal Terence Marsh explains. “Jaden and Johann scored three top ten results in the six days of the Safari as they challenged for the lead among an elite field of the best cars and crews in the world.
“Unfortunately the lads hit a gremlin that would took two minutes to fix once we knew what it was, but which ended up costing us a top ten result overall. But Jaden and Johann certainly shook the trees and grabbed the attention of the W2RC establishment. So in that respect, we certainly walk away proud from a most positive week with a significant Safari Rally feather in our cap.
“On the other side of the Red-Lined Spectrum, the Safari Rally was once again a huge success for our old school VK racers with yet another splendid Red-Lined T1 Adventure class 1-2. Our Sirkel N customer privateers, South African T1 champion Gerhard and Rudi Heinlein won the class on international debut in their Red-Lined VK56 ahead of Nickus Heinlein on his Rally Raid debut alongside Jaco Kriel in their Red-Lined T1 VK50 Adventure. A hugely proud day for Gerhard and his sons Nickus and Rudi!
"Moving across to our two new Red-Lined REVO Ultimate V8s, Danie Ludick and Denzil Williamson put in another perfect run to a splendid 20th overall on debut in their Elegant Fuels machine. Despite only ever racing three regionals and a couple of nationals before making their international debut at the Safari Rally this week, Danie and Denzil never climbed out of the car all week in an incredible run. All they did all week was refuel, check it over and clean all the mud off the REVO at the bivouac!
“Our second factory Red-Lined REVO GT-R team, development crew Dutch driver ?Rients Hofstra and local notes man Wade Harris spent Safari week trying different set-ups every day. They enjoyed a positive week of testing and research running our latest drivetrain, a new steering rack and other developments in the heat of battle. So a great week of learning, where results were never really their focus.
“Two more Red-Lined REVOs competed as part of our factory effort. Dutch DaklaPack Rallysport crew Dave and Tessa Klaassen enjoyed a positive outing in their T1+ GT-R. The ever-consistent Philip Botha and Roelof Janse van Vuren’s initially impressive step up to their new REVO Ultimate V8 was perhaps not as consistent as usual when they were stopped by a few unexpected technical issues later in the race. All part pf the learning curve, however.
“I must congratulate every member of Red-Lined Motorsport on a great effort, but we also need to recognise the technically challenging and hugely popular South African Safari Rally. This maiden race tested the world’s finest crews to the very limit with a splendid, challenging route that also left competitors and teams delighted throughout an incredible week of racing. South Africa can be proud of a brilliant event. Well done to the organising team on a truly incredible effort.
*Red-Lined Motorsport competes with premium strategic partners, the Penta Motor Group, BFGoodrich, Motul, Dragon Energy, OMP, Ingco South Africa and ExpandaSign.
Issued on behalf of Red-Lined Motorsport
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