A quality field has entered for the upcoming VAPS HCV Vryheid 400, the fourth and penultimate round of the SA Rally-Raid Championship(SARRC) that takes place on 9 and 10 October from the Vryheid Airfield in the historic Battlefield Route area in KwaZulu-Natal, and various tight title battles will continue as the compact season reaches its final stages.

Even more excitement awaits at the event as the Road to Dakar Challenge, being run by the ASO, the organisers of the DakarRally, has been integrated into this event where entrants stand a chance to earn a free ticket to the 2027 Dakar Rally.

With the overall championship titles as well as the different class titles still wide open, thrilling racing action can beexpected. And while the previous three races so far this year have been won by two Toyota Gazoo Racing teams – the defending champion, Saood Variawa and navigator Charan Moore and double race winners, Guy Botterill and Henry Köhne, both competing with theToyota Hilux IMT EVO – the winners of this event last year, local KZN competitors, Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer (Castrol NWM Ford Evo Plus) are in the title battle and a victory in front of their home crowd will suit them perfectly and could bring thema step closer to the title.

With two race victories on their 2026 scorecards, Botterill/Köhne will aim for a hat-trick and while a good result will alsoimprove their chances on the title, it will better Botterill’s 2025 result where mechanical issues and a massive rainstorm that forced the organisers to halt the race during the second day, resulted in the Durban driver not finishing the race where he wouldhave wanted to.

And after winning the opening race of the season, Variawa/Moore experienced two unfortunate incidents that saw them droppingoff the overall podium and a good result will be just what they need to recover for the remainder of the season.

Two more Castrol NWM Ford Rally-Raid teams will again be in the line-up. Danie Ludick/Denzil Williamson will be joined by SARRCnewbies, Mike Lawlor and his son, Luke, who will be taking on this race for the first time.

Jayden Els/Johann Swemmer (Century Racing CR7) could not complete this race last year and after a positive start to the season,they will eye a good result in Ultimate FIA T1+. The German driver, Daniel Schröder and experienced SA navigator, Juan Möhr (WCT VW Amarok) will also line-up in this class as will the young Dutch driver, Pim Klaassen and lady navigator, Sasha Siripanyavuthiwho exchanged their SSV for the DaklaPack Rallysport Red-Lined Revo T1+ GTR for this event.

The championship fight at the front of the Ultimate SA T1+ class is extremely tight and the outcome of the VAPS HCV Vryheid400 will play an important role at the final event. Three teams, all competing with the Red-Lined Revo T1+, are in it to win with the Van Staden family, Johan and his son, Sean, not only aiming for a second class victory this season, but also to extend theirchampionship lead. Only two points separate them from the ever-consistent Philip Botha/Andries Mynhardt who have not yet won the class this season, but they will keep their eye on the title and go for gold.

The VAPS HCV Rally-Raid Team, Abrie and Iaan Olivier, will aim to do their sponsors proud and a good result might see themmoving into the top three in the class championship.

The three teams at the front of the Adventurer Class, all competing with the Red-Lined VK50, have also been at each other’sthroats this season. Class leaders Peet Victor/VanZyl Jonck, have won twice this season, but could not complete the recent Outeniqua event while their team-mates, Tyler Botha/Kyle Lotter, could not finish the second race of the season and are third in theclass standings. A good result for both teams will not only make their sponsors proud, but can push them forward for the final round.

Nielen Marx/Rikus Hattingh scooped up the silverware at the third round and would like nothing better than another victorythat can enable them to close the gap to the leaders.

Geoff Minnitt and Leander Pienaar (Hydro Power Equipment Can-Am Maverick R) finished just outside the overall top ten in theGarden Route and will hope for more of the same at Vryheid.

Four teams have entered the Road to Dakar Challenge. The entrants include the Lawlor father and son team; Ludick and Williamson;Botha/Mynhardt and the Oliviers.

On Friday, 9 October the VAPS HCV Vryheid 400 will start at 09:30 with a short 20-kilometre Qualifying Race that will determinethe starting order for Stage One that comprises 70 testing kilometres with the leading team scheduled to leave the Vryheid Airfield at 13:00. The results will then determine the line-up for Stage Two on Saturday where teams will take on the 180-kilometre racingsection at 08:30.

After completion of Stage Two, competitors will be back at the Designated Service Point (DSP) for a compulsory 30-minute servicebreak before embarking on the third and final stage. The Start/Finish as well as the DSP and Race Headquarters  will be situated at the Vryheid Airfield where the podium ceremonies will also take place.

Spectators and enthusiasts can follow the race via the RallySafe App with various spectacular vantage points along the routeor on Facebook: @sarallyraidchampionship; Instagram: @sarallyraidchampionship;Tik Tok: @sarallyraid and YouTube: @SouthAfricanRallyRaidSARRC