January 21, 2021
THE WITNESS
Dakar ‘Saffers’ excel South African teams raise the flag high in particularly tough 2021 Dakar Rally competition CHARMAINE FORTUNE
Steffen Knapp (pictured) has been appointed to head the Volkswagen Passenger Car Brand in South Africa and replaces Martina Biene. The position was effective from January 1, 2021. Knapp, who comes from Germany, joins the South African team from Volkswagen India where he developed a successful turnaround strategy for the brand. “I am confident that Steffen Knapp will continue the great work initiated by Martina Biene and compliment that with his own initiatives. “He has good strategic skills and a wealth of experience, which augurs well for both the Volkswagen team and the Dealer Network,” said Mike Glendinning, VWSA sales and marketing director. Knapp, who holds a degree in Economics, has spent his entire career in the automotive industry and has held various management positions in Europe, which included Brand, Sales and Dealer Network as well as Managing Director with responsibility for a market. — WR.
CHANGES TO THE NEW NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACT (BILL 7) The National Road Traffic Amendment Bill (B 7 – 2020) seeks, among other things, to amend the National Road Traffic Act, 1996, to insert new definitions and amend other definitions to provide for the suspension and cancellation of the registration of an examiner for driving licences or an examiner of vehicles, if such person has been convicted of an offence listed in schedule 1 or 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977), or has a direct or indirect conflict of interest with regard to providing the registration and the grading of training centres. The bill further seeks to provide for the registration of parties listed hereafter, as well as the appointment of inspectorates of manufacturers, builders, body-builders, importers and manufacturers of number plates; to, along with registration and an inspectorate of the following parties, also extend the right to appeal to manufacturers of blank number plates as well as reflective sheeting for number plates, suppliers of blank number plates, suppliers of reflective sheeting for number plates, embossers of number plates, weighbridge facilities, manufacturers of microdots, suppliers of microdots and microdot fitment centres. The bill will require the relevant provincial department or local authority responsible for transport to register a driving licence testing centre before operating as a driving licence testing centre; provide for the surrender of a driving licence by a holder thereof and the re-issuing of a different category of a licence on request to the chief executive officer. It will prohibit the willful or negligent issuing of a learner’s licence or authorising the issuing of a learner’s licence, endorsing or failure to endorse a learner’s licence, or to produce, print or manufacture any document similar to a learner’s licence, contrary to Chapter IV of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996. It will also prohibit the use of unauthorised aid during a test for a learner’s licence or a driver’s licence test, and the disqualification therefor. It will provide for the registration and grading of driving school instructors as well as driving schools; and further prohibit and reduce the limit of alcohol in a specimen of blood taken from the body. —WR.
The Dakar Rally, regarded as the toughest motorsport event in the world, by all accounts lived up to its irrefutable reputation with the running of the 2021 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. At the launch of the 2021 Dakar Rally route, ASO, the organisers of the event described the route as a journey of exploration and more difficult than the 2020 version. This year’s event might have copped criticism for perhaps being a little too tough, but it brought the best out of South African teams, competitors and vehicle manufacturers. “South African vehicle manufacturers, competitors and teams have once again risen to the occasion,” said Archie Rutherford, chief executive officer of the South African Cross Country Series (SACCS). “The results again reflect that South African Cross Country racing has had a major impact on the world stage. “All the South African participants did us proud and the incentive is there for other teams and individuals to follow their dream to experience the Dakar.” On an event plagued by punctures and navigational challenges, it was the Toyota Gazoo Racing squad that spearheaded the South African attack. Nasser Al Attiyah, a two-time winner of the Dakar Rally, and Mathieu Baumel, runners-up in this year’s Dakar Rally, were always in contention for a top-three podium finish, but 2009 Dakar winner Giniel de Villiers and Spanish navigator Alex Haro had a torrid time. The pair only escaped one stage without multiple punctures, finishing a credible eighth overall. Shameer Variawa and Dennis Murphy, fifth in the 2020 SACCS overall Production Vehicle championship and in their first Dakar together, had their share of misfortune including multiple punctures and a broken side shaft, but
Multiple SACCS overall Production Vehicle champions Lategan/Cummings quickly showed their flair as they settled into the demands of the Dakar Rally and by the end of stage four had moved into the top five overall. Unfortunately, this good form came to a grinding halt when the pair crashed out of the rally early in stage five with a spectacular tail-over-nose roll in their racing Hilux. They fortunately suffered only minor injuries, with Lategan cracking a collar bone. In the words of Toyota Gazoo Racing team principal Glyn Hall, “Henk and Brett have made their mark on the biggest cross-country stage in the world, and we’re looking forward to watching their progress in the months and years to come”.
The guys who kept the wheels turning: KZN rally car builder Paolo Gouveia (second from left) from PG Auto Services in New Germany, and fellow Toyota Gazoo Racing mechanics, Jeof Moremi, Gert Smit and Morné Koen grab a quick bite at the team’s bivouac. delivered a sterling performance to finish 21st overall. Best barrel rollers Privateers Brian Baragwanath and Taye Perry, former Dakar Rally quad and bike competitors, in their first attempt in the car category overcame a plethora of challenges including a barrel roll on stage six to prove their mettle in their South African-designed and built Century Racing CR6. The pair finished 32nd overall and seventh in the T1.3 Class for two-wheel drive petrol cars — two positions behind
Brazilians Marcelo Gastaldi and Lourival Roldan in another Century Racing CR6. Proudly SA Lightweights in top 10 In the Lightweight Vehicle class, known as the Side-by-Side (SxS) class in the SACCS championship, another South African constructor is quietly building an enviable Dakar record. Kyalami-based WCT Engineering, under the guidance of Stuart Thompson, saw 12 SA-designed, and built under licence by South Racing in Europe, entered in this year’s iconic event.
American Casey Currie and South African-born Sean Berriman last year conquered the world’s toughest race in a WCT Engineering-designed SSV. This year seven SA-designed CanAms, represented by South Racing and Monster Energy, finished in the top 10 with the overall title going to Chileans Francisco Contardo and Juan Pablo Vinagre. Less fortunate in this year’s merciless 4 500-km marathon epic were Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, and Botswana rider Ross Branch (Monster Energy Yamaha).
‘Kalahari Ferrari’ sadly sidelined In his first outing in the Dakar, Botswana motorcycle rider Ross Branch showed his class when he won the 2019 Dakar Rookie of the event accolade and finished an incredible 13th overall. His excellent performance as a privateer in 2019 and 2020 secured him a place in the 2021 Monster Energy Yamaha Rally team. From the start of this year’s event, Branch displayed his exceptional talent and placed fourth at the halfway mark. Despite a heavy crash on stage seven, he soldiered on but was sadly sidelined with mechanical failure on stage nine. “It was an unbelievable performance for everyone connected with the teams and they deserve a pat on the back,” said Rutherford. “It is stories like these that make the Dakar such a memorable event.” After a lengthy break and the excitement of the 2021 Dakar Rally, competitors and teams will now be turning their focus to the first of seven rounds of the South African Cross Country Series (SACCS) in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, on March 26 and 27. — SACCS.
The mechanics who follow the cars and bikes in trucks have their own Dakar race, which was this year won by Kamaz trucks’ master factory team, ‘Crew N° 507’ (left) comprised of Dmitry Sotnikov, co-driver Ruslan Akhmadeev and mechanic Ilgiz Akhmetzianov. They led the Dakar 2021 truck race from start to a flying finish. Team Dakarspeed 519, (right) from the Netherlands showed how intense the truck race gets. They had to retire after launching over a dune and rolling down the other side. Driver Maurik van den Heuvel, Wilko van Oort and Martijn van Rooij said the roll cage saved them from injury. With the help of Wliiam de Groot they soon had their Scania back on its wheels and then tried everything to restart it, all to no avail.
New car sales at record low New car sales in SA reached record lows during 2020, according to the latest Naamsa data. A market decline of 29,1% resulted in a total of 156 163 fewer units sold compared to the previous year — the lowest figure to be recorded in 18 years. The Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused an economic recession, is widely regarded as the main contributor to the decline in sales as vehicle sales are closely linked to the strength of the economy. “This year will be pivotal for the long-term potential of the South African automotive industry,” says George Mienie, AutoTrader CEO. “After a particularly challenging 2020, dealers will be hungry for business and, as such, new car buyers can expect to land some good deals in 2021,” he predicts. “This won’t necessarily apply to the used market. Because of the growing demand for used cars, good quality stock is in high demand and therefore prices are unlikely to drop. “Having said that, buyers should still be spoilt for choice — with inventory levels in all price brackets remaining fairly high,” Mienie adds. “Consumers should always do their research before signing on the dotted line. This advice extends to finance too. Shop around for the best-possible financing agreement and enlist the help of your dealer, who can usually get a better deal for you than your private banker. “Always ask to see the various deals – so you can see exactly what’s on the table. Don’t forget to push for a better interest rate and ensure that you understand all the administrative fees.” Mienie advises consumers to pay off the car at the same rate at which the car depreciates to avoid long-term debt. This will help ensure that the value owed on the car is not more than its worth. “Get periodic valuations on your vehicle for both trade and retail, and compare these values to the amount owed on your finance.” Despite these challenging climate, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa’s (FMCSA) vehicle sales in the passenger car and light commercial vehicle sector held firm — the Ford Ranger remained one of the top three overall best-selling vehicles for the year, and consistently toptwo in the bakkie market. The Ranger was recognised as the best-selling bakkie in the used car segment as per the 2020 AutoTrader Car Industry report, which covers the period July 2019 to June 2020. — WR.
Record amount raised in 2020 for children’s charity More than R1,3 million was raised during 2020 with the RSG-Beeld Children’s Fund donation project. It is the most money raised for the project since its inception in 1997. The annual fund-raising raffle, which offers a car as main prize, has been sponsored by Kia South Africa since 2018. “It remains important to us as a brand to support organisations that support, develop and empower the youth of our nation,” said Kia South Africa’s GM: marketing, Christo Valentyn. “The youth represent the future of our country, and it’s our duty to support programmes and initiatives that allow them to prosper in the face of adversity.” For the 2020 raffle, it was Reinette Maritz from Brackenfell in the Western Cape who received the exciting news that she had won a new Kia Picanto 1.0 Start for supporting the Beeld Children’s Fund in 2020 by simply making a donation. “I was so surprised when I received the call to notify me that I had won,” said Maritz. “It still feels unreal to win a car,
Reinette Maritz from Brackenfell with her mom Minda Maritz, after receiving the new Kia Picanto 1.0 Start which she won by making a donation to the Beeld Kindervonds competition. PHOTO: MOTORPRESS and especially a cute one like the Picanto! I just adore the Lime Light
colour; it’s different and a bit unusual and I love it. I absolutely love driv-
ing my new car!” More than 2 000 children benefit annually from the funds raised through this initiative. The funds are used for development programmes to benefit children at children’s homes, in foster care, places of safety and through community projects. The programmes focus on physical and emotional development, early childhood development, and help with homework for pupils. Emotional trauma is also addressed through therapy programmes. “Covid-19 has put so much pressure on so many people, including our corporate sponsors,” said the CEO of the Beeld Children’s Fund, Adrie van Staden. “We want to express our great appreciation for the sponsorships of Kia, RSG and Beeld, as well as every person who supported us to raise this record amount. We look forward to continuing this fund-raising initiative for the 25th consecutive year during 2021.” To find out more about the Beeld Children’s Fund, visit www.beeld kinderfonds.co.za (Beeld is a sister newspaper of The Witness.)
WE HAVE A LARGE VARIETY OF ENGINES AND GEARBOXES TO CHOOSE FROM
brand dealers to have a single point of contact with the OEM”. PCSA have been very clear in their approach to the Opel Brand, assuring dealers and customers that the impact on them should be minimal. With no immediate changes planned to the existing dealer network, customers can be assured that they will still have access to the same service points as they previously did. “One of our focus areas for this year is training, with an emphasis on quality and customer service,” assured Ramsoomar, “working with
the existing dealer network”. The three brands are all on sale alongside Isuzu trucks and bakkies at Key Pietermaritzburg, where sales executive Suhail Suder invites Witness Wheels readers to experience French flair and German precision. “These three brands’ main selling points are their high levels of luxury and safety even in the entry level models. There is no downspeccing for our price sensitive market. Instead, you get everything European motorists demand,” he said. — WR.
MANY PERFORMANCE ENGINES AVAILABLE
QUALITY USED LOW MILEAGE ENGINES, GEARBOXES & PARTS
Lexus Spares 1UZ-FE - Full Gasket set - Water Pumps - Cam Belts - Flywheel - Plug Lead set - Coils - Fan Belts - Starters - Dizzy Caps - Airflow Meters - Engine Mountings - Gearbox Mountings - Cam Belt Pulleys - Alternators
Other Engine Spares - Cylinder Heards for most makes of LDV’s - Replacement Turbos for most makes of LDV’s - Bell Housing Big/ Small - Gearboxes - Diffs
ENGINES, GEARBOXES, HEADS, TURBOS, DIFFS, LEXUS SPARES We have in-house Workshop for Engine Exchange and Fitments
French and German brands at Key Peugeot Citroen South Africa (PCSA) have become the official distributor of Opel vehicles in South Africa from January 1, 2021. PCSA, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stellantis, currently distribute Peugeot vehicles and since October 2019 Citroen vehicles as well. Opel becomes the third Stellantis brand to be distributed by PCSA. “It is a natural progression, as the three brands complement each other, each appealing to a specific customer profile” said Leslie Ramsoomar, MD of PCSA. “In addition, it allows our multi-
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WHEELS
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KNAPP THE NEW HEAD OF VWSA
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