Record prize for local rally champ

THE biggest prize on offer for any club motorsport event in South Africa has been secured by the Algoa Rally Association. The association has received a boost from local businesses which have donated a R50 000 prize for the winners of this year’s motor vehicle rally championship, taking place on roads around Port Elizabeth and Jeffreys Bay.

The challenge will consist of six rallies over the year with a variety of special stages to create a challenge with the overall winners receiving the prize.

The prize is expected to draw out-oftown competitors to the events and will be a welcome boost to the economy in the region.

The Algoa Rally Association R50 000 challenge is open to any competitor and not only limited to rally club members.

This will give local motorsport enthusiasts the opportunity to see more specialised rally vehicles consisting of 1 400, 1 600 and 2 000cc vehicles all competing for the lucrative prize.

The rules are simple and any competitor stands a chance to win, even with a home-built vehicle which meets the requirements of safety and motorsport regulations for drivers and navigators.

The winners of each class score points and the team with the most points at the end of the season will win the prize.

Rally routes will consist of tar and gravel, with challenges of smooth and rough terrain, where consistency, accurate navigation and reliability will determine the prize winners, and not necessarily the fastest or most expensive vehicle.

This gives anyone the opportunity to compete in their individual classes to score points for each event. The first event starts on February 23 at Hunters Retreat Hotel from 9am with scrutineering and documentation.

From the hotel the competitors will proceed to Parsons Green tar stage which will be run concurrently, then move on to the PE Oval circuit grounds.

The rally challenge will include the Fountains Mall Shopping Centre Rally in Jeffreys Bay, Loerie and Patensie and new venues in Port Elizabeth over the year including the national Volkswagen Rally.

Expected entries will see new rally cars enter the fray and consist of Polos, Nissans, Toyotas and rally cars from the past including Datsun SSS, Fords and Alfa Romeos.

Some of the rally events will be run in shopping centre parking areas. Entry for spectators will be free. For more information on the rally visit www.algoarallyclub.co.za