Gaborone passes Desert Race test
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday July 7, 2026 10:14
It restored the carnival atmosphere that once made Botswana's premier off-road race a fan favourite. The second round of the Botswana Off Road Racing Championship (BORRC), the Sarona 1000km Desert Race was held at the Agriculture Showgrounds in Gaborone’s Block 10 area. Held from Friday to Sunday, the three-day marathon attracted competitors from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, with international drivers praising the organisation, terrain and passionate local support.
Namibian duo Johannes Grobler and navigator Ferdinand van Niekerk of AK4 Racing powered their Class 5 machine to overall victory.
Grobler described the event as one with the potential to attract even more international competitors.
Competing in Botswana for only the second time, the driver said the race had maintained the high standards he experienced during his previous visit.
'It is very nice,' Grobler said, adding that Botswana's drivers are 'good' enough to compete beyond the country's borders and that he saw 'no problems' with the standard of local competition.
South Africa's Mohamed Moulston, who teamed up with navigator and wife Nasheen Moulston to win Class 2 and finish second overall for Molco Racing, said the race rekindled memories of Botswana's classic desert marathons.
'It reminded me of the old days. It's a marathon event over three days and we enjoyed it thoroughly,' Moulston said.
He described the event as 'world class', praising the route marking and challenging terrain. 'The marking was beautiful, the terrain was lovely. There is nothing I can complain about,' he said. Moulston also paid tribute to the crowds who flocked to the route over the three days.
'The spectators were amazing, as usual. Botswana has the biggest spectators anywhere in the world. We've never had spectators like this anywhere else,' he added.
The endorsements are likely to delight organisers, who returned the race to Gaborone after years in Jwaneng in a bid to bring the spectacle closer to fans and position the Sarona 1000 amongst Africa's leading rally raid events.
Based on the turnout and the praise from competitors, the race's homecoming could hardly have gone any better.