The Ingco Parys 400 and Ingco Vaal 400, the second and third rounds of the 2025 SA Rally-Raid Championship that takes place on 15 and 16 August from Stonehenge River Lodge outside Parys in the Free State, will test competitors, their service and support teams over two days of racing and almost 800 kilometres, but the reward will be worth it as a healthy amount of points will be up for grabs after the two races.
The entry list for both races beams with familiar as well as new names while a few changes also took place after the season opener and combined with the pressure situation as the chase for the titles intensifies, a thrilling two days can be expected – for competitors as well as spectators, supporters and enthusiasts.
Less than four minutes separated the teams on the podium after the first round and they will be under pressure from the rest of the field. The 2023 champions, Gareth Woolridge/Boyd Dreyer (Castrol Ford Rally-Raid NWM EVO PLUS) won the first round of the season and would no doubt want to add another set of good results to their opening tally to keep the overall and Ultimate FIA T1+ Class lead. They will be supported by their Brazilian team-mates, Marcos Baumgart/Kleber Cincea as well as Wors Prinsloo/André Vermeulen (NWM EVO PLUS).
They will, however, not have it all their own way as youngster, Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet (Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux IMT EVO) are hungry for victory after finishing as the runners-up earlier this season. The team also competed in the Baja Aragón where they finished fourth and they will aim for the podium. And so will their team-mates, Guy Botterill/Oriol Valdearcos who experienced mechanical issues at the opening race and a healthy number of points will be the perfect way to get their championship going.
The experienced multiple champion, Giniel de Villiers (#TeamHilux Rally-Raid Toyota DKR Hilux T1+) rounded off the podium at the first race and has again teamed up with longtime navigator, Dennis Murphy and, the duo will certainly have their sights on two superior results.
Their team-mates, Fouché and Bertus Blignaut (Toyota DKR Hilux T1+) will join them on the start line in the Ultimate FIA T1+ Class and after a disappointing finish at the season opener, they will again go for gold.
Two Red-Lined Motorsport teams will be in the chasing pack in this class with young Jayden Els and Johan Swemmer (Red-Lined REVO T1+ GTR), who, like the Blignaut brothers and Botterill/Valdearcos, will hope for two uneventful races and better results after a shaky start to the season. The Dutch couple, Dave and Tessa Klaassen (Daklapack Rallysport REVO GTR) would also like nothing better than to bag their first points.
The German driver, Jürgen Schröder, is back behind the wheel of his WCT Amarok together with regular navigator, Stuart Gregory and the team will be in action for the first time this season.
The Ultimate T1+ SA Class has doubled since the first round and this means the newcomers will add to the pressure. While another class victory will suit the current leaders, Johan and Werner Horn (#TeamHilux Rally-Raid), Marco Himmel/Francois Schoonbee (Red-Lined Navara Evo) would aim to add a victory to their runner-up result achieved earlier this season while another podium result will go down well with Danie Ludick/Denzil Williamson (Red-Lined Revo T1+).
They will all have to keep an eye on the rest of the teams who will kick up dust in this class for the first time this season. These teams include the experienced Gary Bertholdt/Henry Köhne (Hilux IMT EVO) and the ever-consistent Philip Botha/Andries Mynhardt (Red-Lined Revo T1+) while regular competitors, Schalk Burger/Armand du Toit (King Price Xtreme VW Amarok) will also be amongst those in action.
In the Adventurer Class the leaders and regulars will also be up against a few new names. The current leaders, father and son duo, Johan and Sean van Staden (Renault Duster) will feel the pressure from the runners-up, Johan de Bruyn/Adriaan Roets (Red-Lined REVO T1) while the new teams can contribute to the pressure-cooker situation.
The two VAPS HCV Rally-Raid Teams, Peet Victor/VanZyl Jonck and Abrie and Iaan Olivier will put their two Red-Lined VK50’s on the start line of the SA Rally-Raid Championship for the very first time and the rest can expect the unexpected. And with a finish and points already behind their names, the Belgium team, Vincent Vroninks/Dave Berghmans (Red-Lined VK56) will be ready for more. Martin van der Vyver/Victor Ficham (Ford Ranger) will also take on their first national event of the season.
Only two teams, Henk Klaassen/Gerhard Schutte (Daklapack Rallysport Taurus T3Max) and Nielen Marx and Rikus Hatting (Ford Ranger) have entered in the Challenger Class.
Both the Ingco Parys 400 on Friday as well as the Ingco Vaal 400 will start with the Falken Wild Peak Prologue at 08:00 at Stonehenge River Lodge that will determine the starting order for Stage One with Stage Two following after the 30-minute de-control. With a total of more than 800 kilometres waiting to be completed over the two days, the teams will have their work cut out for them.
The Start/Finish of both races as well as the Designated Service Point (DSP) and Race Control will be situated at Stonehenge River Lodge from where the races can be followed in the area.
Published by: Charmaine Fortune
Photography by: Dave Ledbitter
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