Cars Motoring news
Toyota Hilux SP (Special Production) vehicles filled the first three places in the Atlas Copco Sugarbelt 400, the third event in the eight-race ABSA South African Off-road championship.
Together with this top-three finish came Toyota’s third win in the manufacturers’ category in as many races this year for a show of excellent Hilux reliability and durability in the toughest of conditions.
The Sugarbelt 400 is traditionally one of the harder fought events of the season and always presents competitors with a tough challenge. The mixed terrain that takes competitors through cane fields and forest sections rarely provides an easy passage. This year extreme dust caused by near drought conditions in the area impeded any competitor forced to run close behind another vehicle and was ultimately a deciding factor in the results.
Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst brought their Hilux in just a minute an six seconds ahead of the Castrol Team Toyota Hilux of Duncan Vos and Rob Howie with the second Castrol Team Toyota Hilux of Anthony Taylor and Robin Houghton following them across the line.
“With just a second between us we started right on Chis’ bumper. We had to try and take the lead within the first kilometre or so on Saturday, but Chris was really committed and we had no chance to get through,” says Anthony Taylor. “We lost brake pressure and had to top the fluid up on the first time though the DSP (Designated Service Park) and that cost us a bit of time, but we rejoined just behind Duncan. At times the sunlight reflecting through the dust hanging in the forest section made it very difficult to see the route ahead so we had to slow right down and really rely on the guys ahead of us having a problem, to move ahead.”
