Ford takes third and fourth in an exciting Parys race

Ford takes third and fourth in an exciting Parys race 

Little can suppress the excitement one gets on the day of a motor sporting event. Although the day began before the sun graced the farmlands of Parys, we set out to see the best our nation has to offer in the form of fearless drivers and machines so heavily engineered that only a sheer wall can stop them, and yes, I was excited. 

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On this Saturday, Ford fuelled our adrenaline with their brutal Ford Raptor T1+ cars, built right here in SA by the phenomenal Neil Woolridge Motorsports team. Knowing that these world-class machines have Mzansi DNA, like many of the other teams, added a sense of accomplishment as the Saturday's Vaal 400 race kicked off. 

The competition was fierce, as the larger Toyota GR team performed well in the Parys 400 the day before. Toyota GR entered four cars in the 16-strong Ultimate Class, with a privateer crew driving the fifth Hilux. For those less familiar with the crazy world of Rally Raid T1+ or Ultimate Class, the simple way to describe these machines is that they are Dakar-spec cars capable of insane off-road speed and handling. This weekend, two races took place, kicking off with the Parys 400 on Friday and the Vaal 400 on Saturday.

Friday saw the Hilux crew lead the way with an unfortunate DNF from Lance Woolridge and a sixth-place finish from Gareth Woolridge. Heading into the second day, the Woolridge boys, with Ford Raptors in their hands, had a point to prove. As the frost began to thaw on the grass surrounding the soon-to-be dust pit, the cars began their 2km of qualifying, getting to grips with their machines before the 400-kilometre stretch ahead. 

As the cars lined up for the day ahead, we headed off into the bush to find the perfect spot to witness our local heroes in action, and they didn't disappoint. Watching these masters of oversteer bury the throttle through the turns to allow their earth-ripping tyres to pull them around corners is an insult to physics as we know it. Although we were far from competing, there was a sense of intimate involvement as we chased the race through the farms, hoping to find a view that caught up to the pack. 

The second viewpoint was equally exciting, allowing us to catch our first glimpse of a rally raid car at full tilt through the bush, and to say the sounds and sights were spectacular would be an understatement. After a brief few minutes of intense dust and noise, it was time to regroup back at the bivouac for lunch and a catch-up with our two racing teams before the afternoon. 

The morning proved to be favourable for the Fords, and they were looking good heading into the afternoon stages. A stressful dance of tinkering resolved an overheating issue with one of the Fords' rear diffs in time for the afternoon sendoff.

Both Fords left lunch looking for a chance at the podium, and to ensure we didn’t miss a moment, we headed out shortly before the afternoon racing shenanigans kicked off. We saw some exciting river crossing action this time, and even though we couldn't keep up with the Fords ahead, it was still enjoyable to watch a few of the other monsters create upside-down waterfalls. 

As the afternoon drew to a close, it was clear that teams had begun to push hard. The final viewing of the day saw the drivers tackle a long, rough straight with their throttle buried deep into the firewall. It's an overwhelming sensation to see a bakkie absorb the terrain at around 180km/h heading straight towards you, but it's one you wish never ended.

After a tough day of racing, the Fords managed to improve on their performance the day before and saw Lance and Gareth finish in 3rd and 4th, respectively. Toyota put down an impressive performance, with Henk Lategan finishing in first and Guy Botterill in second. 

Seeing such an impressive outing on our soil made me proud to be a motorsports enthusiast in SA, and to watch this event is so simple. All you need to do is throw a few camping chairs, a braai, and a cooler into your 4x4, find the race time and location, and enjoy a day of adrenaline with your nearest and dearest. It’s a day full of smiles and an experience unlike any other, and better yet, you get to see our local legends in their natural habitat, spectacularly tearing across the landscape.