Latest news with #SouthAfricanSafariRally
NDTV
3 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
Hero MotoCorp Paints Upward Trajectory, Dispatches 5.08 Lakh Units In May
Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, dispatched 5.08 lakh motorcycles and scooters during May 2025, achieving both sequential and annual growth. The company continued its strong market momentum in the month with 5 lakh VAHAN* registrations, underlining a sustained customer preference and demand. The company continued to gain retail market share in May 2025, aided by the positive response for its new products across the motorcycle and scooter categories. VIDA, powered by Hero MotoCorp, continued to deliver growth with dispatches of 8361 units and 7161 VAHAN registrations for the VIDA V2 electric scooter range. VIDA achieved a VAHAN market share of 7.2% indicating sustained progress. VIDA is set to electrify the market with a new product launch on July 1, 2025. Hero MotoCorp's global retail performance also showed robust momentum, particularly in Bangladesh and Colombia. Exports maintained a steady trajectory, with growth anticipated in the near future underscoring increasing demand for the company's offerings in key geographies. The company continued its strategic expansion in the premium segment by further expanding the Premia outlets, its premium retail network, reaching over 100 locations across the country. In May, VIDA launched the 'Charging Simple Hai' campaign during the ongoing IPL season. Showcasing its removable battery technology with the message "Every plug point is a VIDA charging point", the campaign highlights the ease of charging VIDA's batteries using any standard 5-amp socket - making electric mobility truly convenient and accessible. Hero MotoSports Team Rally is further strengthened by the addition of Austrian talent Tobias Ebster. The team showcased a commendable performance at the South African Safari Rally, with Ignacio "Nacho" Cornejo securing a solid 6th place. Despite a fall, FIM world champion Ross Branch demonstrated resilience and finished in an impressive 11th position.
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Toyota Gazoo Racing caps off Safari Rally with a strong finish
In addition to the pair of South African entered GR Hiluxes, overall victory went to the factory Gazoo Racing team of Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings. Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet completed the first-ever South African Safari Rally in 12th place overall for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa. Picture: Toyota Gazoo Racing The inaugural South African Safari Rally, round three of the World Rally-Raid Championship, oncluded with the fifth stage on Saturday (24 May), wrapping up six days of racing through some of the country's most punishing terrain. Final push Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa crews Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy, and Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet capped the event with a double top 15 finish on the on the final 111 km special stage around Sun City. The stage covered 222 km in total, featuring two liaison sections split by a high-speed special run through a mix of sand, soft gravel, rocky outcrops, and dry savannah. Opening the route after winning the fourth stage proved a tall order for teenager Variawa and his French co-driver Cazalet as they struggled to maintain pace. 'I gave it everything,' said Variawa. 'I pushed at yesterday's winning pace, but opening the road makes it incredibly difficult. There's just no line to follow, and by the time a few cars are through, the route changes completely. We saw corners become straights just a few cars back.' ALSO READ: Toyota Gazoo Racing ends Safari Rally fourth stage on a high The duo finished 18th on Stage 5, seven min 31 sec behind the leader. 'All in all, it was an amazing event,' Variawa added. 'The scenery, the fans, the stages, everything was fantastic. We were fighting with the world's best, and it's clear we're moving in the right direction.' Teammates Botterill and Murphy also rebounding strongly after a tough start to the event. They produced another clean run to finish 12th on the final stage. 'We had a really successful weekend overall,' said Botterill. 'We managed two 1-2 stage finishes as a team, which was fantastic. The pace is definitely there; we just need to cut out the small mistakes and learn how to better manage the road order strategy in these world-level events.' Reflecting on the rally's, Botterill noted: 'Nobody won a stage starting in the top 10 this week. You really want to be starting fifth or sixth every day, but it's hard to get that balance right. The guys who've been doing this for a while know how to play the game. We're learning fast, and we'll come back stronger.' All round success for Toyota Both Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa GR Hilux EVOs completed the event without issues Variawa/Cazalet finishing 12th overall and with Botterill/Murphy 13th. In the overall standings, works Toyota Gazoo Racing team Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings took the victory ahead of the Dacia Sandrider of nine-times world rally champion Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin, and the second Gazoo Racing Hilux EVO of Brazilian Lucas Moraes and Spanish co-driver Armand Monleon. In the drivers' classification, Variawa edges closer to the top ten, while Botterill adds valuable points to his international campaign. With the South African round complete, the focus shifts to the next round in Portugal on 22-28 September. Overall Results #205 Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings – Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux DKR EVO #219 Sébastien Loeb/Fabian Lurquin – Dacia Sandrider #203 Lucas Moraes/Armand Monleon – Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux DKR EVO #277 Gareth Woolridge /Boyd Dreyer – Castrol Neil Woolridge Motorsport Ford Ranger T1+ #225 Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz – Ford M-Sport Raptor DKR #204 Seth Quintero/Dennis Zenz – Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux DKR EVO #227 Nani Roma/Alex Haro – Ford M-Sport Raptor DKR #242 Daniel Schröder/Henry Köhne – PS Laser Racing Volkswagen Amarok #222 Guillaume De Mévius/Xavier Panseri – X-Raid Mini John Cooper Works #200 Nasser Al-Attiyah/Édouard Boulanger – Dacia Sandrider ALSO READ: Stage 3: No let up for Toyota Gazoo Racing on South African Safari
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
Hero Motosports Team Rally Completes South African Safari Rally 2025 With Strong Results
Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters - Hero MotoCorp, has successfully completed its campaign at the South African Safari Rally 2025 – the third round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2025. After five grueling stages across the Savannah, Nacho Cornejo and Tobias Ebster secured impressive top-10 finishes overall — Nacho placing 6th and Tobias 9th while Botswana's own Ross Branch finished 11th overall in the rally. In the Rally 2 category, Tobias made a strong debut with Hero MotoSports, clinching 2nd place overall. With this performance, Tobias continues to lead the Rally 2 Championship standings. Today's Stage 5 witnessed Ross Branch bounce back with a spirited ride, finishing 3rd — just around two minutes off the stage winner — while Nacho continued his run of consistency, securing 7th place. Tobias also maintained his momentum, finishing 9th in the stage. Meanwhile, Ebster won today's stage in Rally 2, securing the team's first-ever stage win in this category. The young Austrian talent is making a strong case for the title with two races remaining this season. His consistent pace and four podium finishes in Rally 2 at this rally reflect his growing confidence and synergy with the team. Nacho once again proved to be dependable for the team, finishing top-10 in all stages in this rally. After finishing 7th at Dakar and 6th at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge earlier this season, his current form promises exciting results in the remaining rounds. The ongoing season has been quite a challenging one for Ross Branch. After an unfortunate crash at Dakar and a premature exit at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, he entered the Safari Rally with renewed energy. His Stage 1 win and Stage 3 podium reaffirm his speed and determination. Despite the setback in Stage 2, Ross remains optimistic and is eager to capitalize on the remaining two rounds of the championship — racing as the reigning World Champion. With 34 points after the 3rd round, Nacho has moved to the 7th position in the World Championship. Ross, on the other hand, has opened his tally with 8 points in the table. The South African Safari Rally wrapped up today with the fifth and final stage in Sun City, spanning 216 kilometers — including 118 kilometers of timed special. Though short, the stage was anything but easy, demanding razor-sharp focus through a mix of slick hard-packed cotton soil, river crossings, and loose gravel. The terrain breakdown featured 44% 'black turf' typical of local XXL farms, 27% savannah with dense vegetation, 7% rocks, and 16% red earth tracks. A final 33-kilometer liaison brought competitors back to the bivouac, where they were welcomed with celebration. Making its debut on the W2RC calendar, the South African Safari Rally has quickly earned a reputation as a future classic. The groundbreaking event tested the endurance, adaptability, and technical skill of the world's best rally racers. From fast-flowing savannah trails to rocky outcrops and deceptive black earth, the rally showcased South Africa's raw and rugged beauty while challenging competitors with diverse terrain and shifting weather. As a new addition to the championship, the Safari Rally stands out not only for its stunning landscapes but also for the sheer variety and intensity it brought to the W2RC season. Up next, Hero MotoSports Team Rally is all set to take on the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, scheduled to take place from September 22–28, 2025. As the fourth round in the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) calendar, this event presents a fresh opportunity for the team. Buoyed by the momentum and confidence gained from the South African Safari Rally, the team is more focused than ever to conquer the terrain and leave a lasting mark on the championship. With the final two rounds remaining in this season, Hero MotoSports now looks ahead with renewed motivation and strong momentum across both Rally GP and Rally 2 categories. Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: 'Overall, it was a very good race — congratulations to the organizers for delivering a fantastic event. The new terrain brought a fresh challenge and was very well received by the Southern Africa motorsports community. We came in aiming for victory with Ross, and he showed strong form by leading after Stage 1. Unfortunately, a large bird strike in Stage 2 damaged his oil cooler, ending his podium hopes — that's rally, some things are just out of your hands. Still, Ross showed great resilience, finishing the marathon stage and securing two more stage podiums. Most importantly, he proved he's back and competitive after his Dakar injury.' 'Nacho had some ups and downs — this terrain doesn't naturally suit his style, but he stayed consistent and we can always depend on him for a solid result. Tobias has an impressive debut with us, adapting quickly, finishing second in Rally2 overall, and closing with a stage win. We couldn't have asked for more. It's a promising outlook for the upcoming races. While we take a short break from racing, the work continues with testing and prep. We're looking forward to joining the championship battle again in Portugal.' Tobias Ebster, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: 'The last stage is done, and it's an emotional moment for me. It was just 111 km today, and I had a great rhythm until around the 92nd kilometre, when my bike suddenly stopped. A wire was stuck in the rear tyre — I had to stop and cut it out with a side cutter. I also had a small crash and an issue at the checkpoint, but in the end, I'm super happy. We got our first Rally2 stage win for Hero MotoSports today. We made steady progress all week, and I'm proud — not just for myself, but for the entire team. Finishing second overall in Rally2 and keeping our lead in the Rally2 World Championship is a great achievement. A huge thanks to the team for their support and to everyone who came to the track or sent messages — you really kept us going. See you in Portugal in September!' Nacho Cornejo, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: "We are done with the Safari Rally — it's been a super cool week of racing here in South Africa. We had our ups and downs, but also a couple of really strong stages. I was able to perform well in conditions that have typically been a weakness for me, so that's a big positive. Yes, I lost some time here and there, but overall, I believe we're moving in the right direction and making clear improvements in these kinds of terrains. I want to thank the entire team — managers, technicians, physios — everyone who works so hard behind the scenes to support us. Also, a big thank you to all the fans and supporters for the encouragement. We'll keep pushing and working hard for the final two rounds of the year!' Ross Branch, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: 'It's the end of the Safari Rally here in South Africa, and what an incredible week of racing it's been! I truly enjoyed every moment — the atmosphere, the people, and the passionate spectators made it all the more special. The bike performed flawlessly as always. Unfortunately, we had a setback due to an incident on Day 2, which impacted our overall standings. But we're back on pace now, the speed is there, and I'm really happy with how everything is coming together. Looking ahead, I'm excited for Morocco and Portugal. A big thank you to everyone for all the support!' Provisional Classification of Stage 5 (Overall): 1 Ricky Brabec Monster Energy Honda Team 01h 23m 17s 2 Daniel Sanders Redbull KTM Factory Racing + 00m 42s 3 Ross Branch Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 02m 06s 7 Nacho Cornejo Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 06m 06s 9 Tobias Ebster Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 07m 16s Provisional Classification after Stage 5 (Overall): 1 Daniel Sanders Redbull KTM Factory Racing 13h 27m 44s 2 Luciano Benavides Redbull KTM Factory Racing + 08m 55s 3 Ricky Brabec Monster Energy Honda Team +10m 00s 6 Nacho Cornejo Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 46m 02s 9 Tobias Ebster Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01h 04m 40s 11 Ross Branch Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01h 55m 19s Provisional Classification of Stage 5 (Rally2): 1 Tobias Ebster Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01h 30m 33s 2 Ruy Barbosa Xraids Experience + 00m 38s 3 Michael Docherty BAS World KTM Team + 00m 57s Provisional Classification after Stage 5 (Rally2): 1 Edgar Canet Redbull KTM Factory Racing + 14h 17m 00s 2 Tobias Ebster Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 15m 24s 3 Michael Docherty BAS World KTM Team + 23m 35s 2025 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship Standings (After Round 3): 1 Daniel Sanders Redbull KTM Factory Racing 88 Points 2 Luciano Benavides Redbull KTM Factory Racing 53 Points 3 Ricky Brabec Monster Energy Honda Team 53 Points 7 Nacho Cornejo Hero MotoSports Team Rally 34 Points 9 Ross Branch Hero MotoSports Team Rally 8 Points
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Toyota Gazoo Racing ends Safari Rally fourth stage on a high
With one stage left, the factory entered GR Hilux EVO place 12th and 13th in the overall standings. Teenager Saood Variawa and French co-driver Francois Cazalet on their way to winning stage four of the South African Safari Rally. Picture: Toyota Gazoo Racing Stage 4 of the South African Safari Rally delivered a day of redemption and reward for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa, with Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet claiming a commanding stage win and teammates Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy (#211) claiming the final step on the podium. Longest stage done The 693 km route, the longest of the rally, included a 470 km road section and a 224 km competitive stage around the greater Sun City region. The looped route took competitors across a mix of fast-flowing bushveld roads, rocky sections, sandy tracks and open savannah. Despite not feeling 100%, teenager Variawa produced a masterful drive to win his first stage of this year's event. 'We actually had a malfunction with the torque meter, which caused us to lose a lot of power. So, in the last 100 km we pushed the car to the limit, knowing we didn't have full power. ALSO READ: Stage 3: No let up for Toyota Gazoo Racing on South African Safari 'We managed to hold the lead and I'm super happy – with the team, the car, myself, my navigator – everything played out well today,' said Variawa. Variawa's time of two hours 09 min 05 sec was enough to secure the stage win by 58 seconds over the X-Raid Mini of Guillaume De Mévius and Xavier Panseri. For Botterill and Murphy in the second Toyota GR Hilux EVO, stage four brought a further confidence boost. 'We made a few mistakes early on which cost us time, but in the second half of the stage, Dennis and I were absolutely flat-out trying to make up ground. We had no idea where we stood, but I knew we were pushing. To finish third, considering where we were this morning, I'm really pleased.' One stage left Their performance saw them cross the line one min 19 sec behind their Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa teammates. While the individual stage results were cause for celebration, the overall classification remains tightly packed. Variawa and Cazalet moved up to 12th overall, 14 min 23sec behind the leaders. Botterill and Murphy improved to 13th, 18 min 01 sec adrift. With one stage remaining, the rally remains wide open for gains, and potentially, heartbreak, as competitors prepare for the final test: stage 5, a 222 km loop around Sun City featuring a 111 km special stage broken into two liaison sections. ALSO READ: Toyota Gazoo Racing hits back as Safari with double stage podium
The Citizen
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Stage 3: No let up for Toyota Gazoo Racing on South African Safari
With two stages left, the factory supported pair of GR Hilux EVOs completed the third stage with no defects. Toyota Gazoo Racing kept up the pace on another difficult stage of the inaugural South African Safari Rally. Picture: Toyota Gazoo Racing Stage 3 of the South African Safari Rally saw the marathon stage come to a close, as crews returned to rally headquarters at Sun City following two days of intense action without technical assistance. For Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa, the day presented another demanding test of navigation and endurance. Another tough stage The stage covered 518 km, with a 246 km over competitive racing, preceded by a nine kilometre liaison, and a 263 km road section. ALSO READ: Toyota Gazoo Racing hits back as Safari with double stage podium Conditions on the route were as tricky, featuring vast grasslands, soft sand, rocky ridges, and an absence of clearly defined tracks in some instances. For the crews tasked with opening the road, the difficulty was compounded by the low morning sun and limited reference points in the open veld. Reactions Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy were first into the stage after winning the previous leg. Despite the navigational burden of opening the route, the pair kept things tidy and finished with a clean run. 'Today was always going to be tough,' said Botterill. 'At the driver briefing last night we were warned that the navigation would be even harder than yesterday, and it definitely was. 'I think we did a fantastic job. Although our times don't show it, I actually think today's drive was better than yesterday's. We drove close to 100 kilometres with no road at all – very, very tricky to navigate. Dennis did a great job, no punctures, and we kept it all clean and tidy'. They finished the stage in 18th place, 10 min 10sec off the fastest time. Overall, the #211 GR Hilux EVO maintains 15th place, 20 min 25 sec off the rally lead. Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet also faced a stern test. Having started second on the road, the young crew struggled with fatigue following a freezing night in the bivouac and found the terrain particularly taxing. 'Today wasn't the best of days,' said Variawa. 'I think I got a bit sick after the cold night at Marathon camp. We had a rough day, picked up a puncture, got lost a bit. We were overtaking and being overtaken by the same car a few times. But we're still in the race and holding on'. Despite this, the #212 GR Hilux EVO crossed the line 22nd on the stage, 15 min 04 sec down. The crew now sit 14th in the general classification, 18 min 06 sec off the overall lead. Two stages left As it stands after three stages, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa remains focused on consolidating their position, while continuing to climb the leaderboard. ALSO READ: Stage 1: South African Safari starts rocky for Toyota Gazoo Racing
