Johan Evertse, a name that possibly does not get the credit deserved. Like many in South African rallying individuals somehow became specialists in a specific category of the sport.
As a new member of the SAAF in 1980 we somehow managed to attend the Castrol Rally just outside Pretoria where the neat Ford Escort RS2000 caught my attention and I would later learn that the driver was Johan Evertse. At one stage there was a Datsun Stanza with his name on it and then came the era of front wheel drive.
As a staunch rear wheel drive rally supporter the pace that Johan managed in this new configuration was “annoying” as he was fast proving that front wheel drive was easier to maintain and quicker than traditional rear wheel driven machines and he deserves credit as the first true front wheel drive master in South African rallying.
There was the red Golf driven by the man with the red hair and red overall, alias Glen Gibbons, followed by “daai bleddie blou karretjie” of Nic de Waal, the Van der Westhuizen husband and wife combination of Ben and Isebel and of course Eric Sanders (who consistently drove on the limiter), and many more. Front wheel drive became the car to have prior to the arrival of the 4×4 era.
Winning the Castrol in 1989 possibly the highlight with respect overall results as he quite fittingly won in a Golf GTi but from a drivers perspective the Lindsay Saker Audi Quattro must have been the pinnacle.
Arriving at the end of a stage on the Border Mountain Rally with no rear suspension possibly one of the most unique incidents at the time.
Growing in an era dominated by the likes of Sarel van der Merwe and Serge Damseaux the record book left him shy of a few deserving victories but his presence was valued.
Always the same person whether he was rallying, instructing or simply spectating Johan Evertse will be remembered fondly!
Johan Evertse 19530723 – 20250608 
NOVATEK CAMERA 
3A Johan Evertse – Steve Harding – SAM – Lindsay Saker Audi Quattro Sport Turbo – DNF Retired SS4 (1) 
4A Johan Evertse – Steve Harding – SAM – Volkswagen Motorsport Golf MkII Synchro 4×4. DNF Retired SS6 Front Suspension 
5E Johan Evertse – Steve Harding – SAM – Volkswagen Golf MkII GTi 1.8. 5th Overall 9702sec. 024142. (2) 
6E Johan Evertse – Steve Harding – SAM – Volkswagen Golf MkII GTi. 4th Overall 8547sec. 22227. 
11E Johan Evertse – Jan Kriek – SAM – Volkswagen Dealer Team Golf MkII GTi. 8th Overall 14708sec (40508) 
13D Johan Evertse – Paul Malan – SAM – Volkswagen Golf MkI GTi. 6th Overall 034224 
24C Johan Evertse and Malan – BP Datsun Stanza. 18th Overall 25919. Considered the route schedule to have been inaccurate (2) 
Volkswagen International Rally 7A Johan Evertse – Steve Harding – Southern Sun VW Golf MkII GTi Synchro
Published by: Patrick Vermaak
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