Guy Botterill and navigator Simon Vacy-Lyle find themselves on the back foot going into this weekend’s HMC Electrothread Rally in Bronkhorstspruit.
Brian Joss – The pair lost the lead in the 2017 National Rally Championship at the Volkswagen Rally in Port Elizabeth last month, and with three events left on this year’s calendar, will have to dig deep to ensure a good result. With that said, their Toyota Etios R2 has received a lot of care since the last event, and Botterill is looking forward to the next round.
“We’ve done a rebuild on the engine,” said Botterill from his home in Durban. “We’re confident that the car is back to its reliable self, and can’t wait to get out on the stages this weekend.”
The HMC Electrothread Rally is Round 5 in the 7-round 2017 South African National Rally Championship, and takes place on 18 and 19 August 2017, in and around the Gauteng town of Bronkhorstspruit.
Botterill goes into the event four points behind championship leader Richard Leeke (Ford Fiesta R2), and only three points ahead of Chris Coertse in his Mazda 2 R2.
“We can’t afford any mistakes at this point,” concluded Botterill. “The championship is balanced on a knife-edge, and even though there are still three events to go, we’d like to make up points now, rather than face a do-or-die battle at the end of the season.”
With three crews right in the thick of the championship battle, this weekend’s event is sure to offer spectators an exhilarating experience. And with the event within easy driving distance of both Johannesburg and Pretoria, the organisers are expecting a large turnout.
The HMC Electrothread Rally is scheduled to take place over two days, and will be run over 11 Special Stages. The total racing distance is 148 km, and the event will start at Godrich Toyota in Bronkhorstspruit at 3pm on Friday August 18.
