Parys to host cross country series finale

Lance Woolridge and Elvine Vonk.

The airfield outside Parys in the Free State hosts the final rounds of the 2020 South African Cross-Country Series today and tomorrow in the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Vaal 400.

With four crews all within reach of the championship, racing through the Free State maize fields will be fierce throughout each of the two 400-km rounds.

Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Team Principal, Glyn Hall said with very limited time between the two rounds, the pressure will be on the drivers to avoid mechanical trouble, especially today.

“With that said, we’ve been doing a lot of work on our Hilux in preparation for Dakar, and we’re keen to see how our recent changes translate in race conditions, so they can’t hold back too much either!” Hall added.

Gazoo’s defending champions, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, have a commanding lead in the production vehicle category and are the favourites to win a second successive title.

The Toyota Hilux crew will be keeping a close eye on Brian Baragwanath and Taye Perry in their CR6 Buggy.

These two bikers-turned-car racers have surprised the experienced crews with their pace and are only three points behind in the standings.

In the FIA class drivers’ championship, Ford Castrol Cross Country Team racers Lance Woolridge and Elvéne Vonk are just 16 points from second place, with Vonk only five points adrift of second place for the navigator’s title. 

After their podium finish in the season-opener at the Mpumalanga 400 in February, the Ford pair are keen to end 2020 on a high note, especially as this looks to be the last outing for the V8 Ranger engine.

Fans can follow the action on the Rallysafe app.