Latest news with #2025WorldRally-RaidChampionship
The Citizen
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Locally manufactured Hilux wins inaugural SA Safari Rally
Serving as round three to the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), the SA Safari Rally concluded after six days of competition through some of Mzansi's highveld terrain, just outside of Sun City in the North West Province. The rally featured five stages, including the opening prologue and it covered multiple road surfaces and landscapes, dominated by dry savannah with some black sand and soft gravel inbetween. The final stage encompassed a total of 222 kilometres, with a 111 km high-speed special stage around Sun City. TGRSA drivers Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy finishing 12th on the final stage and securing 13th overall. Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet, managed a win on Stage 4 but faced the challenge of opening the route on Stage 5, finishing 18th for the day and 12th overall. Gazoo Racing added that both crews contributed valuable points to Toyota's lead in the Manufacturers' Championship. Related: Nissan's Rosslyn Plant Risks Closure Amidst Global Restructuring Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings clinched the overall victory in the car category with their Toyota Gazoo Europe Hilux T1+. In the motorcycle division, Daniel Sanders of Red Bull KTM secured his fourth consecutive W2RC victory, extending his lead in the championship standings. Related: All-New Honda Amaze Lands in SA – Pricing and Spec With the South African round concluded, the W2RC now shifts focus to the next event in Portugal, where TGRSA aims to build on their home soil experiences and continue their pursuit of championship success. 2025 SA Safari Rally W2RC Round 3 Standings H. Lategan / B. Cummings (#205) – Toyota Gazoo Racing: 12h10m42s S. Loeb / F. Lurquin (#219) – The Dacia Sandriders: +01m39s L. Moraes / A. Monleon (#203) – Toyota Gazoo Racing: +02m55s G. Woolridge / B. Dreyer (#277) – Neil Woolridge Motorsport: +04m48s C. Sainz / L. Cruz (#225) – Ford M-Sport: +05m15s S. Quintero / D. Zenz (#204) – Toyota Gazoo Racing: +06m19s N. Roma / A. Haro (#227) – Ford M-Sport: +06m45s D. Schröder / H. Köhne (#242) – PS Laser Racing: +09m04s G. De Mevius / X. Panseri (#222) – X-Raid Mini JCW: +11m44s N. Al-Attiyah / E. Boulanger (#200) – The Dacia Sandriders: +11m48s Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Locally Manufactured Hilux Wins Inaugural SA Safari Rally appeared first on CAR Magazine.
India Today
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Hero MotoSports signs Tobias Ebster, set to debut at South African Safari Rally
Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport division of Hero MotoCorp, has bolstered its international rider line-up with the signing of Austrian rally rider Tobias Ebster. The 27-year-old joins the team after a breakthrough 2024 will make his competitive debut for Hero MotoSports later this month at the South African Safari Rally, the third round of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). He joins the roster alongside teammates Ross Branch and Nacho are absolutely thrilled to welcome Tobias to the Hero MotoSports family,' said Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager. 'His incredible rise, grit, and sportsmanship reflect the values we stand for. Tobias adds fresh energy to the team at a time when we are building on a historic championship victory and aiming even higher.' Hailing from Zillertal, Austria, Ebster rose through the ranks in just four years since his rally debut at the Hellas Rally Raid. He gained international attention in 2022 by winning the FIM Bajas World Cup in Dubai, followed by a victory in the Rally 2 category at the Abu Dhabi Desert 2024, he finished 9th overall in the Dakar Rally, earning the title of top privateer. The year prior, he won the 'Original by Motul' class for unsupported riders and was named Best thrilled and honoured to be part of Hero MotoSports,' said Ebster. 'It's a dream come true to race for such a dynamic team and represent the world's largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturer. I'm ready to give it my all and contribute to our shared success.'A mechanical engineering technician, Ebster has juggled a variety of freelance jobs—from pizza delivery to carpentry—to support his racing ambitions. Guided early on by his uncle, Heinz Kinigadner — a two-time Motocross World Champion — Tobias began riding at age four. With his signing, Hero MotoSports signals not just an investment in talent, but in the future of rally to Auto Today Magazine
