Toyota Desert Race 2019: Red Line to the desert

Adventure trio ready for Botswana

Red-Lined Motorsport heads to the third and fourth rounds of its 2019 South African Cross Country racing adventure with its three FIA Class Nissan Navara T1 race pickups focused on continuing with their unbroken run of race finishes at Botswana’s Toyota 1000 Desert Race 21-23 June. The team has had all its cars finish both opening races of the season and the aim is to continue that trend along an all new route for the first time this year.

“We are looking to continue our great adventure and to cover every kilometre we sign up for,” team principal Terence Marsh explained. "The Desert Race will be the toughest nut for us to crack to achieve that though, so we head to Selebi-Phikwe in a confident, but realistic mood. We also have all three cars entered in the Road to Dakar — a race-within-a-race that offers privateer crews the opportunity to win a free entry to the Dakar, which is one prize any of our guys would dearly love to win."

Cross Country racing rookie Ernest Roberts has proven find of the SA Cross Country season so far, driving alongside experienced notes man Riaan Greyling in the JCP Roofing Red-Lined Navara, achieving best of the rest results behind the mighty Dakar Toyotas in both opening races. “The Desert Race is our biggest test yet, but we are ready for the adventure,” Ernest admitted. “Let’s do this!” 

Namibian former rally duo Jaco van Dyk and Michel Rust are likewise looking for another strong result as they continue to find their way in Cross Country aboard their 24-7 Race Fuels Red-Lined Navara. “I have driven this race before but in another era!” Jaco smiled. “We are steep learning curve and this is the biggest challenge yet so we will be delighted to bring it home on all three days — we are ready.” 

Like their Namibian teammates, former SA champion rally driver and navigator Schalk Burger and Elvine Vonk are also fast learning about the rather different demands of Cross Country car racing. “We've been learning every kilometre,” Schalk confirmed. “The plan this weekend is very much to make it to the finish once again as we build up to our Dakar dream — and who knows, there is a prize on the line this weekend that will make that goal so much easier to attain…”

Source Red-Lined Motoring Adventures official press release