23 Jun 2019

Thirty nine die hard drivers participating in the Toyota Kalahari Desert 1000km Race (TDR) took off this morning to start the first lap of the 1000km new TDR route at Selebi Phikwe.

The participants of various vehicle classes under the Production Vehicle Category completed the 60km qualifying race yesterday(June 21) that determined the starting order for today(June 22)'s race.

The classes include FIA, A, P, T, S and G.

The leading vehicle Toyota Hilux driven by Chris Visser and navigator Phillip Herselman left the Sam Sono Stadium which is the start/finish point at 0815 hours.

The race which is dubbed ''a race within a race,'' supports the road to Dakar initiative, and will earn the winner a free entry to the world's toughest automotive race, the Dakar Rally billed for Saudi Arabia in 2020.

The dakar rally is a huge event in the South African Cross Country Series calendar and the winner is expected to walk home with a whooping R450 000.ENDS