Summarize

Red-Lined Motorsport together with the Penta Motor Group, ended its 2022 rally raid season on a somewhat indifferent note at the Kameel 600 over the weekend. Philip Botha and Wade Harris gave the team overall victory on day 1 in their Red-Lined VK56 while Johan de Bruyn and Gerhard Schutte brought their Red-Lined Revo home to clinch the TIORC FIA Championship title.

The weekend however also ended up bringing Philip Botha’s incredible run of race finishes to an abrupt end. Leading the way on day 2 and only 22km from the finish line. Botha driving his Penta Red-Lined VK56 with Wade Harris on the notes, hit a huge partially hidden rock. That launched the car into a series of rolls to signal Botha’s first retirement after an incredible 56 stages, 23 race events and more than 13 000kms of rally raid racing he had successfully completed since his debut over two years ago.

“Excuse the pun, but all good things must come to an end!” Red-Lined Motorsport boss Terence Marsh explained after the race. “First and foremost, that brings an incredibly successful and exciting 2022 rally-raid season to a winning end for Red-Lined Motorsport and the Penta Motor Group. 

“Congratulations to our super rookie Johan and experienced notes man Gerhard on taking the TIORC FIA class title in their first year of trying. “It ends the season on a flying note for the pairing with them also finishing 3rd overall in the South African Rally Raid Championship. “What a way to end a wonderful debut season of racing for this aspirational team!

“Unfortunately, the other good thing that eventually came to an end was Philip Botha’s incredible 100% run of 56 stage and 23 race finishes since his debut alongside his regular notes man Roelof Janse van Vuren. “Will that record ever be broken? “Well, that remains to be seen, but I would think that mark certainly will stand for a very long time to come!”

“So that brings a slightly bittersweet end to a brilliant season of racing for Red-Lined Motorsport and the Penta Motor Group. “We had a winning end to our national FIA T1 season and now we have closed off by adding a TIORC title for Johan and Gerhard. 

“It’s Dakar next for us. “We will be supporting a few customer teams in the Saudi Arabian Desert before we embark on our most exciting national campaign yet in 2023. “Our all-new T1+ REVO will debut, backed by a strong T1 REVO and VK56 attack alongside it, among much other exciting news. “Watch this space!”