TOTAL Rally - 2013 South African Rally Championship Round 1

[handbrakes&hairpins]

Taking place on 8 - 9 March, the TOTAL Rally is set in KwaZulu-Natal, around Durban and the slippery South Coast sugar-cane lined gravel roads around Scottburgh.

Click on the following hyperlinks to view the Spectator Guide (http://www.sarallying.co.za/index.php/competitor-info/item/download/105_a30e6175fec3d62c5f8ab36305f029f0), Entry List (http://www.sarallying.co.za/index.php/competitor-info/item/download/115_a394bbe4bf2b825761e03b713f47de1f) and Rally Maps (http://www.sarallying.co.za/index.php/competitor-info/item/download/75_766198da11a3ac45ceb77af92bf4d5e8). There are 30 crews entered to take on this event's dusty stages, and with the all-new Toyota Yaris S2000 set to debut on this event, the updated factory Volkswagen Polo S2000s and the mighty Ford Fiesta S2000s ready, it will be a hot event!

http://handbrakeshairpins.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/mm1.jpg?w=640

[Rallying UK]

Interesting to see that Tom Cave's former co-driver, Craig Parry will be co-driving for Ashley Haigh-Smith on this year's championship.

Haigh-Smith may also be doing some European rounds too.

[handbrakes&hairpins]

Craig is a talented co-driver and a great person. He competed on a few rounds in South Africa in 2012 and contested all of Ashley's events in the WRC Academy last year too. Ashley is a driver going places, and with Craig I am sure he is getting there quicker! They will be the ones to beat in the 2WD category in South Africa this season.

[Rallying UK]

It's great to see so much interest in the SA championship this year.

It's down in no small part to you Evan! Keep up the great work.

[Bruce D]

Will be interesting to see how Ashley goes this year. On this event last year he was creamed by the other front runners, which is why I believe he can only win fast events where the car advantage takes over. About time he proves me wrong!

The roads are in a tricky condition this year, there was massive damage from rains during December which has been a major headache for the organisers. My father is Route Director for this event so I have more inside info than usual for this one, and I was shocked with the conditions he described so far. All the stages have been shortened in some way and even the repairs to the stages are questionable in places. The farmers are working flat out to get it ready and hopefully it'll run well.

Looking forward to watching this event, especially as it will be the first time I get to take my son to a rally so I'm keen to see if he enjoys it or not. :D

[Grant_RSA]

First time in 6 years i wont be doing the Natal event, quite sad, but what an opener to a season, probably the trickiest rally of the year after such a long break. Everyone will have to be at their best from the word go.

I predict a Mark Cronje win, but watchout for the Toyota's from round 2 onwards.

[handbrakes&hairpins]

Here is Mark Cronje/Robin Houghton, winner of the TOTAL Rally 2013:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5UKXiNBFx4I/UUYiGXNF9TI/AAAAAAAAaRg/sfoMDByMHG8/s912/MC1.jpg

Second place was claimed by Jan Habig/Robert Paisley:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hWH8ppL7M20/UUYiDl56a4I/AAAAAAAAaRQ/b7ei6CiXn8g/s912/JH1.jpg

Third place was snatched by Jean-Pierre Damseaux/Hilton Auffray:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-H9p5oeOMUeQ/UUYiFAM-M-I/AAAAAAAAaRY/2to87I7vJrg/s512/JPD1.jpg