2 wins, 5 podiums & Road to Dakar win on VAPS HCV 400
Everyone was a winner when Red-Lined Motorsport delivered a dominant performance in the VAPS HCV Vryheid 400 classes over the weekend. The team scored an SA T1+ class 1-2-3 and a T1 class 1-2 as it placed one hand on both those National championships in the penultimate round of the 2026 South African Rally-Raid Championship in KwaZulu-Natal. Philip Botha and Stompie Mynhardt also went on to take the prestigious Road to Dakar Challenge, and the VAPS HCV Rally-Raid team, the Team of the Event award.
“It may have been another extremely tough and challenging event, but as a team we overcame a few curveballs and went on to produce some great results during this past weekend’s VAPS HCV Vryheid 400.” a delighted Red-Lined Group CEO Terence Marsh confirmed. “To sweep the SA T1+ board with our trio of Red-Lined REVO T1+ V8s, dominate the T1 class with our Red-Lined VK50s and then scoop the Road to Dakar and Team awards, as well as leave with both our championships well on target, was almost the perfect weekend for us!”
The V8 powered Red-Lined Motorsport REVO T1+ trio made the SA T1+ race their own. KEC Racing father and son, Johan and Sean van Staden held the Penta Motor Group’s Philip Botha and Stompie Mynhardt off to extend their narrow lead over Botha and Mynhardt in that class title chase. Abrie and Iaan Olivier’s similar VAPS HCV Rally-Raid REVO T1+ was third. The SA T1+ championship title fight is now a straight shootout between the van Stadens and Botha and Mynhardt as they head into the final event of the season. In the process, Botha and Mynhardt also won the prestigious Road to Dakar Challenge. A major victory in its own right, their free entry to the 2028 Dakar Rally, worth an estimated R600 000, commences a thrilling new adventure for the crew.
Nielen Marx and Rikus Hattingh’s Red-Lined VK50 meantime took their second T1 class win on the trot to close that championship deficit down on current leaders Peet Victor and Van Zyl Jonck’s similar VAPS HCV Rally-Raid VK50. Victor and Jonck however have Marx and Hattingh to thank for even finishing the KZN race. Their young title rivals showed incredible sportsmanship to stop and help them recover after they rolled during stage. And then, to wrap it all up, the VAPS HCV Rally-Raid teams of Abri and Iaan Olivier and Peet Victor and Van Zyl Jonck took the Team Award to see Red-Lined Motorsport leave Vryheid with its chalice quite literally flowing over.
“Two wins, five podiums, the Road to Dakar win, the team award and then five cars in the top ten is a pretty rewarding weekend to say the least!” Terence Marsh concludes. “But now, with two class championships still to wrap up, the preparation and hard work begins as we head towards the final event of the year, the Northam Zondereinde Bushveld 400 on the weekend of 13–14 November. Lots still to play for in Thabazimbi!”
*Red-Lined Motorsport competes with premium strategic partners, the Penta Motor Group, VAPS HCV, BFGoodrich, Motul, Dragon Energy, MFC, OMP and Ingco South Africa.