Summarize

It’s the beginning of a new era as the 2025 South African Rally Championship finally kicks off in TRAC Tzaneen today, 27 June. The switch to Dunlop tyres is one of many changes sweeping through the local stage sport as the championship seeks to return to its halcyon glory in the days of Sarel van der Merwe and Jan Hettema, Serge Damseaux and Jannie Habig.

“The arrival of Dunlop as the official tyre supplier is one of the cornerstones of our plan to return South African Rallying to its rightful glory,” Series Technical Consultant Rod Hering explains. “We are beyond delighted to have Dunlop aboard as Tyre Partner to the Championship, to make rallying great again. This is the first of several big changes, so watch this space as things happen!”

The TRAC Tzaneen Rally was one of the rallies rain-delayed from its original date to the series start, but that will not detract from the promise of a truly cracking season-opener. It is indeed also the geneses of one of those old legends that brings much of the new thrill to Tzaneen as son of Jannie, Benjamin Habig steps up to the big league with Barry White calling the notes in an all-wheel drive turbo 2-litre AWD VW Polo NRC1. 

Former kart and Polo Cup racer Habig cut his rally teeth in flying style in front wheel drive cars. His arrival in the top class is one of the highlights alongside a shake-up after former Toyota crew, the Swazi Cowboy Jono van Wyk and Nico Swartz jump ship to the title winning turbo 1600 AWD Mazda 3 NRC1. Their former teammates, Mandla Mdakane and Henry Adams will fly the Gazoo Toyota flag in their 2.0 AWD Starlet.

Home hero Theuns Joubert with former rally legend Etienne Lourens now navigating, complete the NRC1 line-up in their Toyota Yaris. NRC2 now includes an interesting mix of old school Group N cars rallying against newer machinery. Subaru Impreza STi duo Johan Strauss and Caro Storm, and Juan De Wet and Gert Nienaber, and Johann Fourie and Natasha Fourie-Kotze’s Toyota Celica GT4 take on Lynton Swatton and Tommie Coetzee’s Auris and Golf crew Paul van Niekerk and Willemjan Human. 

Front-wheel drive NRC3 sees VW Polo duo George Smalberger and Carolyn Swan up against Ford Fiesta crews, Magriet Potgieter and Tommy du Toit and Gustav Potgieter and Jané Visser. The rest of the TRAC Tzaneen Rally field comprises an eclectic field of machinery from a Mazda Capella rotary and a Ford Capri V6 to Sentras, Golfs, Auris and Run-X entries also vying for Northern Regions glory.

Comprising a variety of famous traditional dirt and novel tarmac tests around town, the TRAC Tzaneen Rally commences with a ceremonial start midday today 27 June before six special stages through to 19h00 this evening. A further six stages make up day 2, starting 09h00 Saturday. Find more info, download the spectator guide, and follow the Dunlop-shod South African Rally Championship at https://nrcsa.co.za

“Dunlop is delighted to be a fundamental part of the changes sweeping through the South African Rally Championship,” Dunlop Marketing Manager Joanne de Freitas concludes. “Also a natural addition to Dunlop’s many circuit racing series, rallying further proves the Dunlop pedigree beyond reproach. We are proud to be Tyre Partner to the South African Rally Championship.”