AN EXCITING field is likely to assemble for the opening round of the Northern Regions Off-road Championship - the Barberspan 200 - on the 18th February.
Apart from the normal bandits, the field is likely to attract a number of ABSA national championship entries. The national competitors will be using the Barberspan event at a shakedown for the opening round of the ABSA Off-road Championship early in March.
Adding to expectations that the event will attract a good entry is the fact that Northern Regions off-road addicts have not raced since the RFS Magalies 400 in November last year, and will be raring to go. In addition, the Barberspan event has traditionally been well supported.
In keeping with a drive by the South African National Off-road Racing Association (SANORA) to grow the sport at regional level, four of this year’s Northern Regions Championship events will be run in conjunction with ABSA Off-road Championship events. This year’s Northern Regions Championship will be run over nine events stretching from February to early November.
“We have been encouraged by the growth of off- road racing in both the Northern Regions and KwaZulu-Natal regional championships,” said SANORA chairman, Richard Schilling. “A number of competitors who have cut their racing teeth in these championships are now performing well at national level.
“Running regional events in conjunction with the ABSA series exposes competitors to the national culture and we will continue to focus a great deal of attention on growing the sport at grass roots level,” added Schilling.
In this regard stalwart regional competitor, Greg Higgins, has been appointed Northern Regions representative on the MSA Off-road Car Racing Commission. Higgins has been tasked with working among clubs to ensure that the growth process continues.
“It is not an easy task for Greg, but he is enthusiastic and that counts for a great deal. The association will help as much as we can and, along with recent South African successes on the Dakar Rally, there is plenty of room for optimism,” said Schilling.
Round Two of the Northern Regions Championship will run in conjunction with the RFS Magalies 400 opening round of the ABSA Off-road Championship, on the 9th and 10th March. The full regional championships calendar is as follows:
18 February Barberspan 10 March RFS Magalies – Tarlton 12 May Mafikeng 9 June Vryburg 28 July Sun City 8 September 4x4 Mega World – Carnival City 29 September Wolmaransstad 20 October Human Auto – Bloemfontein 3 November Lichtenburg
