Toyota guns for hat trick of �Mantshwabisi� titles
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday June 23, 2017 14:39
The defending champions are breathing a sigh of relief as their closet rivals, Nissan are likely to miss the event, as they would be competing in another off-road event in China. Mantshwabisi, as the event is popularly called, has been Toyota’s preserve, with the manufacturer winning it a record 13 times.
Toyota’s first win came in 1992, when the team went on to win the race seven times from 1992 to 1999. The team was defeated in 2000 when Neil Wooldridge won the event on two consecutive times with Mitsubishi Pajero and Ford.
Toyota’s Leeroy Poulter has to beat Ford, BMW X3 and new entrants Renault for his second title on local soils.
The former MSA Motor Sportsman of the year who finished second in last year’s event, would look to maintain the grip at the top of the table. Poulter leads the Donaldson Championship and hot on his hells is his teammate and former Mantshwabisi champion, Anthony Taylor. The duo is expected to offer local fans thrills when they compete for the title.
In the bike category, SACCS OR1 leader, Ross Branch said he wants to cement his place at the top.
Branch, together with Dartagnan Lobjoit, made history last year when they became the first local riders to win the championship. Branch told Mmegi Sport this week that he will be going for a podium finish while a win will come as bonus.
“I will just be going for a podium finish. It will be difficult to go for a win. It is important to score points, it is two rounds in one weekend, and it is an opportunity to score points.
“A 1,000km race is a very long way for a biker.
It takes a lot for the biker both physically and mentally. You have to go one-on-one, it is very hard to take both on the mind and the body,” Branch said. Branch would be amongst the over 100 riders who would compete at this year’s desert race.
He said it takes eight months to prepare for the event, but the most important part of preparation would be having a financial back up.
“One should have a great team, a good sponsor. You should have a team of people who are willing to support you all the way while at the same time you got to have a sponsor because racing in these types of races does not come cheap,” Branch explained.
He has ridden at the Mantshwabisi over the past years and the ever-changing route is not the biggest challenge.
“I cannot even remember last year’s route or the year before’s. You need to have good concentration, a sharp mind because you will be dealing with a lot of donkeys and cattle.
The spectators could also make it a little bit difficult as you may find people on the racing route. As a rider, you should try to take good care of your bike at all times.
The rocks can end your race in a split second. You have to be at your best.
The two-day event would be good preparation for the guys who would want to compete at the Dakar (Rally). It prepares you both physically and mentally,” he said.
The event has for the past three years been included as one of the feeder races to the Dakar Challenge and is one of the four events in the world to gain that status thus becoming the biggest off road race in Africa. The time trials for the vehicles and bikes will commence today.