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Team Toyota Won Again At The Desert Race For The Third Time In A Row

Team Toyota has once again won the Dersert Race over the weekend in Jwaneng and they have been winning the race for three consecutive years now.

Former Dakar Rally winner Giniel de Villiers and his co-driver pulled their first win of the season in the production vehicles category.
The duo finished just six seconds ahead of team mates and defending national champion Leeroy Poulter and Robert Howie.

The winner Giniel de Villiers told the media that he was very happy to win the race.Β β€œMe and Leeroy pushed until the end and had to win by about 10 seconds, I think this is the closest finish in the 1000 Desert Race history. It is a special win for me because although I competed before, this is one race that I have never won so I am obviously happy,” he said.

He said the last time he competed in the race was 14 years ago and did not win despite taking the lead.

β€œThat time I was leading but was unfortunate to hit a spectator along the way. This year, I came back and managed to do everything smoothly and won,” he added.

Even though Ford Ranger beat new entrant Renault Duster in the overall final results, the pair of Johan Van Staden and Mike Lawrenson made a good first impression by coming third in the Class FIA.

In the closely contested class T category the final podium place went to Mpumalanga brothers Johan and Werner Horn in a Malalane Toyota Hilux.

In the special vehicles category, Marius Fourie and Jolinda Fourie drove their BAT to first position followed by Coetzee Labuscagne and Sandra Labuscagne with a Porter.

This was the last time the desert race is being held at Jwaneng. As of next year, the race will be in Gantsi.

 

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