Parys, Free State – The quiet riverside town of Parys is about to roar to life as some of the best rally-raid drivers in the world descend on the Free State for the opening of the 2026 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) – the INGCO Parys 400 on Friday, 19 June and Saturday, 20 June.
The championship-opening weekend will deliver nearly 450km of high-intensity rally-raid racing over two days, testing man and machine in one of the toughest formats on the national motorsport calendar.
It will be the eighth running of the event in the Parys area, with competitors having tackled the terrain in everything from dry, dusty conditions to wet and challenging weather. Many will still remember the massive hailstorm that struck during the inaugural event in 2019.
This year, competitors will once again race across two provinces. While the bulk of the route will be based closer to Parys in the Free State, sections along the banks of the Vaal River will see crews crossing into the North-West Province.
“This is one of the most demanding events of the season,” says SA Rally-Raid CEO Archie Rutherford. “It’s Dakar-style racing where competitors have to balance outright speed with mechanical sympathy and strategy.”
Fans will be delighted the season is finally underway after unavoidable delays caused by the outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth disease in the Northwest Province, which resulted in the postponement of the Stella event, while severe storms and flooding in the Southern Cape forced the postponement of the Outeniqua 600 to August.
“The rally-raid community has been incredibly patient and supportive through a disrupted start to the season,” said Rutherford. “We know competitors, teams, sponsors and fans are eager to get the championship underway and we are looking forward to finally going racing again in Parys. The event always delivers fantastic action and this year’s route will once again provide a proper test for competitors while remaining exciting for spectators.”
According to Race Director Evan Hutchison, competitors can expect a route that combines high-speed sections with technical challenges.
“We’ve taken some of the best sections from last year’s double-header event and combined them into a route that offers a little bit of everything,” explained Hutchison.
“There are fast flowing sections, technical turns, water crossings, muddy patches and open grasslands. It’s the kind of route that keeps competitors focused from start to finish and should produce excellent racing throughout the weekend.”
Racing action starts on Friday, 19 June, with the Qualifying Race scheduled to get underway at 09:30 near Race Headquarters and the Designated Service Park (DSP) at Stonehenge River Lodge. The qualifying results will determine the starting order for Stage One, which begins at 12:30.
Competitors will first complete a 14km liaison section via the R59 through Parys to the Parys Airfield, where the racing section will start. The opening stage will feature open veld, technical sections, sharp turns and water crossings before finishing back at the airfield and returning to the DSP.
Saturday’s action starts with a ceremonial departure from Stonehenge River Lodge before competitors head to the start of Stage Two at 08:30, just beyond the N1 bridge.
The 200km route will take teams across a mix of muddy sections, open grasslands and typical Free State mealie-field terrain. The route winds towards the Weiveld Grain Silos and Boerevereniging Hall before reaching the R82 and looping back via Dover Railway Station towards the finish near the N1.
Following a 30-minute compulsory service break back at the DSP, competitors will tackle the same stage for a second time, setting the scene for an intense battle for overall honours.
“These stages are a really good combination of fast and technical,” added Hutchison. “Drivers and navigators will need to stay sharp throughout because small mistakes can quickly become costly.”
Stonehenge River Lodge will once again serve as Race HQ and the Designated Service Park (DSP), offering excellent spectator access and a vibrant atmosphere for fans following the action across the weekend.
The event also provides a welcome tourism boost for Parys and the surrounding region, with teams, officials, support crews and spectators supporting local accommodation establishments, restaurants and tourism attractions.
For fans wanting an even closer experience, VIP hospitality packages will once again offer premium viewing opportunities, gourmet hospitality and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the teams and drivers. A new addition to the VIP area is the inclusion of thrilling helicopter flips, where spectators can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of all the action.
Whether you are there for the dust, drama and high-speed racing, or simply to experience one of South Africa’s premier motorsport events, the INGCO Parys 400 promises an unforgettable opening chapter to the 2026 SA Rally-Raid Championship season.
Follow all the action on the RallySafe App (free on iStore and Google Play), or on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube at South African Rally-Raid Championship.
PREPARED ON BEHALF OF SA RALLY-RAID BY CATHY FINDLEY PUBLIC RELATIONS
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