Summarize

Red-Lined Motorsport racing with the Penta Motor Group came away from the 4x4 MegaWorld NAMPO South African Cross County double header satisfied with good results and a positive debut for its brand new REVO race car. Three of the team’s crews finished on Friday and two on Saturday, while the brand new designed and developed REVO showed great pace albeit troubled by those expected shakedown niggles.

 

“We had a most satisfactory weekend at the NAMPO double-header,” Red-Lined team principal Terence Marsh confirmed. “Our brand new REVO showed some great pace, while all three of our customer crews went on to produce their personal best results over the weekend. Philip Botha and Roelof Janse van Vuren continued their incredible unbroken finishing record while recording their best result to date, Thomas Bell and Bruno Jacomy also went on to score their best result on day two after more than a 2 year break, and Eben Basson and Gerhard Schutte were a stunning seventh overall on day one."

 

The brand new Red-Lined REVO was one of the stars of the Bothaville show in Conrad Rautenbach and Riaan Greyling’s hands. The no compromise custom FIA T1.1 class racer showed great pace as it ran well within the top ten on both days. “Our REVO was quick and handled well right out of the box,” Rautenbach smiled. “While we are still trying to get a good understanding of this new machine, we ended up setting some good sector times, but unfortunately had to stop with a rear prop shaft issue on Friday and then experienced a faulty oil pressure sensor on Saturday. "Which is to be expected as we continue with the development of this new project. “REVO has incredible potential!” 

 

Philip Botha and Roelof Janse van Vuren not only continued their 100% finishing record, now well into its second year, aboard their Penta Motor Group Red-Lined VK56, but they also scored their best SACCS result yet on both days. “Our fairytale finishing record remains intact, but we were delighted to twice finish our best yet 12th overall in a world class field this weekend,” Philip confirmed. “We had a puncture as well as a few other minor issues over the two events, but our VK56 ran like a train and we are thrilled with our results as we continue with our build up to Dakar 2023!”

 

UAE driver Thomas Bell was more than satisfied with his return to SA Cross Country after a two year lockdown absence alongside Argentine Bruno Jacomy in his Motul VK56. “It is so good to be back,” Tom admitted. “Best of all, we finished both races in really tough conditions and my best SA Cross Country result to date in 11th overall on Saturday “This was another wonderful African adventure for us, Bruno and I gelled very well first time out, and our Red-Lined VK56 ran beautifully. "A great weekend spent with a world class team!”

 

The best team result of the weekend however came in the form of Eben Basson and Gerhard Schutte’s fine seventh overall in their Red-Lined VK56 on Friday. Unfortunately while running comfortably in the top ten on the Saturday the car lost drive and they had to retire 100km from the finish. “That was a bittersweet weekend!” Eben admitted. “We had great pace all weekend and scored our best result yet on Friday. “But all good things have to come to an end and we finally retired from a race for the first time on Saturday, and this after an unblemished run of more than 9 500km since our debut last year! “Thanks to the team for another fantastic weekend!”

 

“All in all, that was a great weekend,” Terence Marsh concluded. “Two completely different days, wet and slippery on Friday and dry and fast on Saturday, on two vastly different routes, once again superbly laid out by SACCS route director Evan Hutchinson. “We have so many positives to take out of the weekend as a team — from an exciting debut of our Red-Lined Revo to personal best results for three of our team crews. “What an adventure!”  

 

Red-Lined Motorsport now heads to the Northwest Province for the penultimate SACC Vryburg 400 on 29-30 October.