Dippenaar, Kritzinger in overdrive to defend titles

Windhoek Motor Club’s 54th Tara Rally, supported by M&Z Motors, will kick off tonight (20:00) with two super special stages at the Tony Rust race track near Windhoek.Wilro Dippenaar, with navigator Carolyn Swan, who won his first Tara in 2011, will be the defending 2023 champion, ready to face Allan Martin and Maretha Olivier, Paul van Wyk and Matt Kohler, as well as Stefanie Botha and Amanda Hugo in the S4 Class.Rian Kritzinger, the 2023 Off-Road Champion, will be back this year to defend his throne. Kritzinger will race in the hotly-contested CR2 Class.The solo South African entry of Paul van Wyk and Matt Kohler from the Western Province Motor Club with an S4 Class 4x4 Audi S3 had a close shave on Sunday at the Noordoewer border post.Van Wyk’s journey to Windhoek came to an abrupt halt when an immigration official determined that the team needed work permits to compete in the event, resulting in their denial of entry into the country.However, Van Wyk and Kohler will kick up dust in the coming days after the organisers worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure their entry.On Friday morning, the action shifts to Rehoboth, where the teams will start at 09:30 at the Rehoboth shopping centre. The day concludes at the Tony Rust racetrack at 17:00.The third and final day will again be set off at the racecourse at 09:30 and finish at the same venue. The award ceremony is scheduled for 19:00 at the track.Special stages (SS) at Rehoboth on Friday, 7 June. Each stage will be raced twice.SS3: Reho West 1 (09:15).SS4: Donkey Pad 1 (09:43).SS5: Puma 1 (10:12).SS6: Sentrum 1 (11:30).SS7: Reho West 2 (13:05).SS8: Donkey Pad 2 (13:33).SS9: Puma 2 (14:02).SS10: Sentrum 2 (15:20).Windhoek, Saturday, 8 JuneSS11: Stables (09:35).SS12: Eros Airport 1 (09:57).SS13: M&Z 1 (11:38).SS14: Savanna 1 (11:54).SS15: Eros Airport 2 (13:28).SS16: M&Z 2 (14:18).SS17: Savanna 2 (14:35).SS18: Stofpad (15:48).For more information on the stages, please visit Windhoek Motor Club’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WindhoekMotorClub.Early daysIn the early years, sedan vehicles and bakkies competed against each other in a class and the vehicles were convincingly two-wheel-drives.According to records, the first 4x4 that won the Tara in 1991 was a Mazda B2600 pick-up. In 1992, a 4x4 VW Golf Syncro emerged as the winner, followed by a 4x4 Ford Saphire in 1992 and 1993. A local 4x4 Audi Quattro led the way in 2003 and 2004. The 4x4 Super 2000 design (S2000) made its appearance in 2009, with brands such as the Toyota Auris and RunX, VW Polo and Ford Fiesta competing mainly in the S3 class.The S4 class followed with the arrival of 4x4 turbocharged engines from various brands. Wilro Dippenaar and Allan Martin picked a Ford Fiesta R5 and a Skoda Fabia R5, respectively, as weapons of choice. As technology developed, the S2000s that previously raced in the non-turbocharged S3 class were upgraded to the S4 class.Dippenaar is the only Namibian to win the Tara three times. South Africans won 24 Tara Rallies, with Japie van Niekerk the most successful with three titles.Several double winners from both countries have made history over the years. See the previous winners below.Provisional entriesThe off-road class for bakkies and purpose-built vehicles has nine teams, while the sedan division has seven entrants.S4Car number 1, Allan Martin and navigator Maretha Olivier (4x4 Skoda Fabia R5)No. 469, Paul van Wyk/Matt Kohler (4x4 Audi S3).No. 77, Wilro Dippenaar/Carolyn Swan (4x4 Ford Fiesta R5).No. 92, Stefanie Botha/Amanda Hugo (4x4 Subaru Impreza).S2No. 43, Zachary Martin/Anique Schoeman (2x4 VW Polo).No. 33, Wido Bartsch/Raymond Fourie (2x4 VW Polo).S1No. 79, Pieter Greeff/JP Robinson (2x4 Toyota Corolla).CR2No. 44, Ruaan Viviers/Cecil Koorts (4x4 Renault Duster 5.0Liter V8).No. 84, Loic Bathfield/Johan Steyn (2x4 Century Racing CR6 7.0L V8).No. 919, Rian Kritzinger/MP Pretorius (4x4 Ford Ranger 5.0L V8).No. 28, Jandré Dippenaar/Gielie Visser (4x4 Toyota Hilux 5.0L V8).No. 201, Werner Bartsch/Christel Fourie (4x4 Ford Courier 3.0L V6).CR1No. 07, WJ Schoeman/Chané Havenga (2x4 Toyota Hilux GD6).No. 215, Ekko Eisenberg/Horazio Rietz (2x4 JAC T8 5.0L V8).No. 818, Chrizelda Engels/Ruan de Lange (2x4 Nissan Hardbody 4.0L V8).No. 999, Ewald Bisschoff/Hein Bisschoff (2x4 Toyota Hilux 4.0L V8).Previous winnersIn order of year, driver and nationality, navigator and nationality, type of vehicle.*South African drivers/teams. 1969: Chris Liebenberg (Namibia) André de Jager (NAM) Renault Gordini. 1970: Pix von Prittwitz (NAM) Larry Kritzinger (NAM) VW Beetle. 1971: Dieter Gaus (NAM) Udo Weck (NAM) Ford Capri 3000. *1972: Louis Cloete (Republic of South Africa) Willem van Heerden (RSA) Ford Escort. *1973: Louis Cloete (RSA) Willem van Heerden (RSA) Opel Manta*1974: Jannie Kuun (RSA) Peter Gaus (NAM) Toyota Corolla 1900 GSL. 1975: Buks Visser (NAM) Ingo Kiesewetter (NAM) Datsun 1600 SSS. *1976: Geoff Mortimer (RSA) Chris Hawkins (RSA) Leyland Marina. *1977: Sarel van der Merwe (RSA) R de Jager (RSA) Leyland Marina. *978: Geoff Mortimer (RSA) Spotty Woodhead (RSA) Chev Chevair. 1979: Uwe Molzahn (NAM) Louis van Zyl (NAM) Ford Escort. 1980: Manie Swanepoel (NAM) Siggi Wiedenroth (NAM) Datsun1800 SSS. *1981: Sarel van der Merwe (RSA) Franz Boshoff (RSA) Ford Escort. 1982: Jürgen Engling (NAM) Peter van der Merwe (NAM) Datsun 1400 Y. 1983: Johan Hugo (NAM) Deon Barnard (NAM) Datsun 1800 Y. 1984: Laurence Koch (NAM) Dippies Dippenaar (NAM) Toyota Corolla 1600.1985: Laurence Koch (NAM) Dippies Dippenaar (NAM) Toyota Corolla 1600. 1986: Rolf Pretorius (NAM) Hans Pretorius (NAM) Toyota Corolla 1800. 1987: Piet Oosthuizen (NAM) Wolfgang Pack (NAM) Toyota Corolla Liftback 2.8. 1988: Llewellyn Anthony (NAM) Jan Gous (NAM) Nissan Langley 2.8. 1989: Theo Coetzee (NAM) Willem Hugo (NAM) Nissan Skyline 2.8. 1990: Uwe Kessler (NAM) Brian Enslin (NAM) VW Golf 2.0. 1991: Junior Bruwer (NAM) Wicus Bruwer (NAM) 4x4 Mazda B2600. *1992: Johan Evertse (RSA) Peter Cuffley (RSA) VW Golf Syncro. *1993: Roelof Coertze (RSA) Martin Botha (RSA) 4x4 Ford Sapphire. *1994: Roelof Coertze (RSA) Jillian Tarlton (RSA) 4x4 Ford Sapphire. 1995: Fritz Flachberger (NAM) Wicus Bruwer (NAM) Ford Escort. *1996: Serge Damseaux (RSA) Pierre Arries (RSA) Toyota Conquest. 1997: Llewellyn Anthony (NAM) Wicus Bruwer (NAM) 4x4 Ford Sapphire. *1998: Enzo Kuun (RSA) Martin Botha (RSA) Daewoo. 1999: Richard Himmel (NAM) Adolf Botes (NAM) Toyota Conquest. *2000: Serge Damseaux (RSA) Guy Hodgson (RSA) Toyota Hilux. *2001: Hannes Grobler (RSA) Richard Leeke (RSA) Nissan Hardbody. *2002: Schalk Burger (RSA) Piet Swanepoel (RSA) Subaru Impreza. !2003: Gerhard Truter (NAM) Tobie Barlow (NAM) Audi Quattro. !2004: Gerhard Truter (NAM) Michael van Zyl (NAM) Audi Quattro. *2005: Ettienne Lourens (RSA) André Vermeulen (RSA) Toyota Corolla.!2006: Richard Himmel (NAM) Adolf Botes (NAM) Toyota Corolla. *2007: Jean-Pierre Damseaux (RSA) André Vermeulen (RSA) Toyota RunX. *2008: Jean-Pierre Damseaux (RSA) André Vermeulen (RSA) Toyota RunX. *2009: Hergen Fekken (RSA) Pierre Arries (RSA) VW Polo S2000. *2010: Hergen Fekken (RSA) Pierre Arries (RSA) VW Polo S2000.2011: Wilro Dippenaar (NAM) Morné du Toit (NAM) Toyota RunX S2000. 2012: Willie Dames (NAM) Armand du Toit (RSA) VW Polo S2000. *2013: Japie van Niekerk (RSA) Gerhard Snyman (RSA) Ford Fiesta S2000. *2014: Japie van Niekerk (RSA) Gerhard Snyman (RSA) Ford Fiesta S2000.2015: Richard Slamet (NAM) Wiets Coetzee (NAM) Toyota RunX S2000. *2016: Japie van Niekerk (RSA) Robin Houghton (RSA) Ford Fiesta S2000. 2017: Wilro Dippenaar (NAM) Rian van der Westhuizen (NAM) Toyota Auris S2000. *2018: Japie van Niekerk (RSA) Gerhard Snyman (RSA) Ford Fiesta S2000. 2019: Allan Martin (NAM) Maretha Olivier (NAM) Skoda Fabia R5. 2022: Steven Marnewick (NAM) Jodine van Zyl (NAM). Hyundai. 2023: Wilro Dippenaar (NAM) Carolyn Swan (RSA) Ford Fiesta R5. – tielman@nmh-hub.com.na

Dippenaar, Kritzinger in overdrive to defend titles

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