It’s rally time!
Rally championship on the line
The 2023 Shell V-Power Windhoek Rally is on this weekend!
Redline Motor Club will present the 2023 Shell V-Power Windhoek Rally in and around Windhoek as the fifth and penultimate round of the 2023 Namibia National Rally Championship tomorrow and on Saturday.Vivo Energy and the Redline Motor Club have brought about many successful motor rally events since 2014. Previously, these events were presented in the rural areas of Gobabis and Omaruru, but this year, Windhoek residents get the opportunity to experience this excellent showpiece.
Communications manager Lazarus Nafidi says: “We have been supporting motorsports in Namibia for more than 20 years, first under the Shell banner and now as an inclusive energy company, Vivo Energy Namibia.”
Regarding the Shell V-Power Rally, he says that “our sponsorship allows us to connect with a passionate community of motorsports enthusiasts.”
“Furthermore, sponsoring a motorsports rally allows us to showcase our technical expertise and commitment to performance. Motorsports events require top-quality fuel and lubricants to ensure optimal vehicle performance and reliability. By partnering with Redline Motor Club on the V-Power Rally for the tenth consecutive year, we hope to continue the legacy of motorsports as a popular sports code and as a platform to demonstrate the effectiveness of our products in demanding and competitive situations,” he adds. “Go Well! Go Shell!” says Nafidi.
Watch the rally
Most of the special stages are spectator-friendly, with new routes being introduced in Windhoek for the first time. Drivers and navigators set off on Friday evening, 20 October at 18:00, from Lafrenz Shell Service Station on a 288-km course including 12 special stages totaling 108 km. When the last competitor arrives at the Redline Motor Club for the end of the rally on Saturday afternoon at about 17:30, a prize-giving function with live music will conclude the event.
Fourteen cars are expected to start the rally with former Namibia National Rally Champion and winner of three previous events in 2023, Wilro Dippenaar, and navigator Carolin Swan in a Ford Focus R5, set to fight hard against stiff competition for the 2023 Rally Class Championship lead.
Resistance will come mainly from the current championship leader (by one point), Sachary Martin, in his Class S2 VW Polo 1600, with Anique Schoeman reading the notes. Other contenders for the championship are Pieter Greeff (S1 Toyota Corolla), Wido Bartsch (S2 VW Polo), and Peer Rohm (S1 VW Polo). Currently, the Navigators Championship for the Rally Class is a two-horse race, with Pieter Greeff’s navigator only four points ahead of Wido Bartsch’s Raymond Fourie.
Days 1 and 2
The challenge class, which accommodates bakkies and off-road vehicles, is also closely contested, with only 23 points separating first from third. Loic Bathfield and Navigator Johan Steyn in their CR6 off-road monster top the log, with Rian Kritzinger and Ian Stander (V6 Nissan Hardbody) only 11 points off the pace. Also within striking distance is rookie Ekko Eisenberg, with navigator Horazio Riets (JAC Double Cab) twelve points back.
Day one of the event will finish at the Elisenheim Spar parking area at about 21:00 on Friday evening. Before that, the first special stage (SS) at the Tony Rust Race Track will start at 18:23 and will be a super stage involving two cars competing against each other at the same time. SS 2 will provide excellent spectator viewing on the main road next to the Windhoek Country Club and on the new Rehoboth B1 Extension. SS 3 will also provide many good viewing points next to the B1 Main Road between Van Eck Power Station and the Elisenheim intersection. The all-new SS 4 next to the Ujams Sewage Works provides a new experience whereby spectators can setup for a braai next to the action. The spectator point can be reached by turning right off the tar road just past the rail crossing to Elisenheim.
Day two of the event will start at Elisenheim Spar at 11:00, when SS 2 to 4 will be run before setting off to Aris for two stages. The first car will be back in Windhoek by 15:00 to do SS 2 to SS 4 again.
The organisers of the event want to emphasise that motorsport can be dangerous and request the public’s assistance in ensuring all roads are kept clear during the running of the special stages.