Nissan wins at Sun City

Former South African champions Terence Marsh and Buks Carolin turned the form book upside down when they won the Production Vehicle category at the Sun City 400, round four of the Absa Off-Road Championship at the weekend.

Marsh and Carolin, in the Regent Racing Nissan Navara, became the second privateer team to win an event this season.

The pair started fifth on the road and edged out Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux crew Gary Bertholdt and Andre Vermeulen to join two-time winners Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst (RFS/Visser Transport Toyota Hilux) on the privateer roll of honour this season.

Prior to this weekend Marsh and Carolin were lying 12th in the overall championship with their best result and eighth place on the Toyota Dealer 400. But it all fell into place for the veteran crew and they eked out a 23 second win ahead of Bertholdt and Vermeulen that rocketed them into fourth place in the championship.

The form book took another beating when Thomas Rundle and former SA champion Juan Mohr completed the podium in the ex factory Barden Nissan Navara. In two previous outings this season Rundle/Mohr had failed to finish.

Reigning SA drivers' champion Duncan Vos and Rob Howie, in a Team Castrol Toyota Hilux, recovered from starting 13th on the road to finish fourth with the top five completed by Kobus van Tonder and son-in-law Freddie Kriel in the Uni Freight Ford Ranger.

More at Ananzi Motoring