Team Ford NWM draws first blood in South African Rally Raid
Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet place second for Toyota and achieve their highest SARRC finish to date.
The next round of the SARRC is in Parys from 15-16 August.
With an even shorter race calendar compared to previous years, getting the 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) season off to a good start was imperative. That's exactly what the Castrol NWM Ford managed to do at this year's season opener in Bronkhorstspruit, with Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer securing a commanding victory and taking the early championship lead.
The team's three-car lineup, now sporting a new white livery with Castrol branding (in place of the familiar blue), showcased exceptional speed with the NWM Evo Plus relishing the fast, dusty conditions.
Gareth and Boyd entered the final stage with an 11-second advantage over their Toyota rivals, Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet, but they could not rest on their laurels. They did the opposite and grew the lead by nearly three minutes to claim top honours.
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'Crossing the finish line in first place at the first event of the year is fantastic', said Gareth Woolridge. 'It's nice to get an edge over the competition early on. We were down a bit in position, but I knew that the vehicle had the pace, and if we kept doing more of the same, we would have the pace. We really pushed hard from start to finish, and the car was indestructible! This result is fantastic for the team, and hopefully, this win
sets the tone for the rest of the season.'
Adding to the team's impressive showing, Lance Woolridge made an unexpected but impactful return to SARRC competition, stepping in for the injured Wors Prinsloo. Alongside co-driver Andre Vermeulen, they kept a watchful brief on the leading pack and were ready to pounce on any mistakes in front. They crossed the line in fifth place, earning valuable points for the team while Prinsloo gets ready to return to action.
Brazilian and South American rally-raid champions Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea gave the team an international flavour. They brought their extensive experience to the South African circuit. The duo, multiple Brazilian Cross Country Championship title holders and 2019 South American champions, achieved a steady drive to finish seventh overall as they adapted to the local demands.
'What an incredible way to start the season,' said team principal Neil
Woolridge. 'I'm immensely proud of the entire team; their dedication and hard work over the off-season are really paying off. The improvements we've made to the vehicle were clearly visible out there, and it performed flawlessly across some very tough terrain. A huge thank you to every team member and our valued partners and sponsors for their unwavering support. While this result is exactly what we hoped for, there are still valuable lessons to take from the weekend as we push to be even stronger for the rest of the championship,' said Neil Woolridge.
While the Castrol NWM Ford Team celebrated a dominant victory, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) also commenced their 2025 SARRC campaign with a podium finish. Saood Variawa and co-driver Francois Cazalet secured an impressive second place overall at the Renault KEC 400 event, marking their highest SARRC finish to date. They completed the event in 6 hours, 10 minutes, and 02 seconds, precisely 2 minutes 38 seconds behind the winning Ford NWM duo. Despite facing challenges such as two punctures and a two-minute penalty, Variawa was satisfied with the result. 'Still, it's a podium finish, my best so far in the championship, and I'm really happy with the team, the car and our performance.'
Other TGRSA crews, like Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena, faced mechanical trouble, while João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro had an early retirement after landing in a river, fortunately without injury.
With this strong start, the Castrol NWM Ford Team is well-positioned for what is anticipated to be a thrilling 2025 SARRC campaign. Both teams will now prepare for the next round in Parys, scheduled for 15-16 August.
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