GALLERY: the wet and slippery 2022 Mpumalanga 400 

It was a Toyota and Ford showdown at the 2022 Mpumalanga 400 which was the season opener for the 2022 South African Rally-Raid Championship. Toyota triumphed in a dominant display with their Dakar proven Hilux T1+ while Ford showed good pace which should yield an entertaining season.

2022 Mpumalanga 400 

The final corner of the first stage.

The serene hills and valleys around the quaint town of Dullstroom were interrupted with the brutal and virile sound of petrol powered all-terrain machines that powered through the dirt tracks and off-road trails over the two day event. The first day consisted of an 20 kilometre Pirelli Qualifying Race which would set the order for the preceding stages.

2022 Mpumalanga 400 

The NWM bivouac.

The first of which was an 85 kilometre stage on the first day which ran on the dusty dirt roads adjacent to farmlands and through tree plantations in the region. The second stage the following morning utilised a 150 kilometre loop which drivers had to complete twice bringing the grand tally of mileage to just over 400 kilometres. 

2022 Mpumalanga 400 

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings on the qualifying loop.

Dakar competitor and double stage winner Henk Lategan with co-driver Brett Cummings reigned supreme in the 2022 Mpumalanga 400 as the dynamic pair piloted the Toyota Gazoo Racing DKR Hilux T1+ to victory in the 400 kilometre rally raid event. The pair that opened both stages had to stop and open three closed gates and change a flat tyre and managed this with a time of 06:37:25. 

2022 Mpumalanga 400 

The inaugural race of the 2022 season.

This was only 51 seconds faster than team-mates Shameer Vaiawa and Danie Stassen who helped lockout a Toyota Hilux podium with Eben Basson and Leander Pienaar a few minutes behind. The third place challengers in the #TeamHilux Rally-Raid also won the T1 category and finished with a time of 06:46:21.

2022 Mpumalanga 400 

The NWM-prepared Ford Ranger T1+.

The two new Ford Ranger T1+ challengers prepared by Neil Woolridge Motorsport suffered bad luck throughout the event after Lance Woolridge and Elvéne Vonk took the lead but retired after colliding with a tree. Team-mates Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer managed fourth place overall in their T1+ with a time of 06:54:13

2022 Mpumalanga 400 

The Toyota Gazoo Racing bivouac which ran three T1+ cars.

The 2022 Mpumalanga 400 also included some open-wheeled BAT and Can-Am models which got both driver and co-pilot drenched in mud and dust before and after the night downpour which made for slippery conditions on day 2. 

2022 Mpumalanga 400 

Slippery grass tracks proved to be tricky for competitors.

The next event on the calendar is scheduled to take place in Easton, KwaZulu-Natal on the 29th and 30th of April.

Photos: Alex Shahini (@alexshahini)

The post GALLERY: the wet and slippery 2022 Mpumalanga 400  appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Topical tips on buying used – Chapter 1

Image
Buying a used car can be harrowing, whether privately or from a dealer. Here are some tips, as well as some things to watch out for. Beware of low mileages, especially on smaller or cheaper cars. It is always possible that the odometer has been turned back. Some things to bear in mind are:- diesels are often bought because they the driver needs to undertake long trips without consuming vast amounts of fuel. This could be a sales rep, or someone travelling large distances to work, lots of lengthy trip for family holidays, etc. So, usually higher mileages than normal. An expensive or luxury car may not see much time on the road, but very seldom a “workhorse”. This makes the executive cars likely to have a lot more life left than the overworked and abused hatchback. These also spend most of their life in a home garage or undercover parking lot at work. Related: Someone paid more for a mint BMW 325iS Evo 2 than a used M4 A vehicle without any service history is a serious disadvantage...
Read more

Top 10 Best-Selling Automotive Brands Locally – April 2024

Image
Following eight consecutive months of sales decline, the milestone of celebrating a century of vehicle production locally saw a welcomed increase in the motor industry for April 2024. Have a look at the data below, which sees Toyota drop in sales but retain the top spot, with Suzuki moving into second and Nissan dropping to the bottom of the list without the NP200 rolling off of the production line. Image: Toyota Looking for your next new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag! South Africa is marking 2024 as a significant year for its automotive industry, celebrating 100 years of car manufacturing. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa , the country’s automotive business council, commented, “As the sun rises on a century of automotive innovation, South Africa proudly commemorates a century of automobile manufacturing excellence. This milestone reflects a journey of resilience, ingenuity, and passion that has shaped the nation’s automotive legacy.” Details on how the industry will commem...
Read more

Could this teased Lancia sports car be a reborn Stratos?

Image
Lancia recently teased a coupe-looking model, waiting to be unveiled in their Multiverse. Could this then, signify the return of a historic moniker like the Stratos to the struggling automaker? Image: Lancia #MakeLanciaGreatAgain – a social media phrase that has been making the rounds for the better part of a decade. World Rally Championship titles, Formula 1 single-seat winners and some other gems in between. The Italian automaker litters dates in history and motorsport, with some truly revolutionary ideas and models that aided their bid to become one of the most successful motorsport manufacturers of all time. But that is all in the past. Lancia now contends sole markets with a platform-shared model but there have been ambitious plans under Stellantis ownership to kick-start the automaker and make them great again… words that delight so many enthusiasts and aficionados. Related: Automobili Amos debut Martini Racing Livery Lancia Delta and Safarista What better way to do this th...
Read more