The run-up to the SAPFA Rally Nationals is in full swing 

By Rob Jonkers, Jonty Esser and Willie Bodenstein

The run-up to the SAPFA Rally Nationals is in full swing to practice before the teams all head down to Stellenbosch in April, where the 1st round of qualifying for the International Rally Championships taking place in November, which also takes place in Stellenbosch and where team SA is working hard to enter as many teams as possible to compete against formidable overseas teams.

The Championships will take place at Stellenbosch Airfield, located about 8 km from Stellenbosch Town, 35km from Cape Town International Airport, and 50km from Cape Town City Centre in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. 

 

Established in 1973, the Stellenbosch Flying Club is located among the picturesque mountains and vineyards of the Cape Winelands. The club offers excellent facilities, with the recently upgraded restaurant and relaxing outdoor area adding value.

 

                                                                               Participants at the 2019 training camp held at Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch proudly boasts one of the most beautiful airfields in the world. The famous Stellenbosch Winelands are protected by the Hottentots-Holland mountain range and offer breath taking and spectacular scenery stretching from the Atlantic Ocean as far as Tulbach in the North.The rally flying will take place over a vast area of magnificent mountainous and flat terrain.

The Rand Airport training camp participant

 

And participants at Brits on Saturday the 13th March

Jonty Esser, as the SA coach, has put together a series of training camps to give the new teams that are entering the sport the best opportunity to qualify. Saturday the 13th March was one of these that took place at Brits and one of the 2014 Nationals Routes was dusted off for the teams to practice on.

The focus was on photo recognition and accurate timing. The route for those who could remember was a long and difficult one, and the photos hard to find, especially with some years having passed and vegetation looking different. As a training route, everybody learnt plenty and would have gained valuable experience. 

Saturday’s results

The next practice round will at Stellenbosch on 27th March, with the Nationals 15 – 17 April.Your RSA Team is working hard to make us all proud. The 1st selections will be made on the 14th – 18th of April 2021 and 2nd selections will be in September 2021 in Gauteng – Please come support your potential team members –
Pilot – Fanie Scholtz Navigator – Herman Haasbroek
Pilot – Jonty Esser Navigator – Sandi Goddard
Pilot – Tarryn Myburgh Navigator – Iaan Myburgh
Pilot – Piet Meyer Navigator – Adrienne Visser
Pilot – Hendrik Loots Navigator – Adele Loots
Pilot – Fredirik Kotzee Navigator – Apie Kotzee
Pilot – Andre Kluyts Navigator – Don Lucas
Pilot – Steven van der Merwe Navigator – Alwyn
Pilot – Tony Russell Navigator – Pam Russell
Pilot – Ashleigh Prinsloo Navigator – Marco Nel
Pilot – Adrian Pilling Navigator – Mary de Klerk
Pilot – Hans Schwebel Navigator – Ron Stirk
Pilot – Rob Jonkers Navigator – Martin Meyer
Pilot – Thys van der Merwe Navigator – Sally
Pilot – Laura McDermid Navigator – Stuart McDermid

 

All are welcome to join us at our training camps and come try out for the selections
Visit www.speedrally.co.za to enter
Check out the World Rally Flying Championship 2021 – 22nd WRFC in Stellenboschwww.worldrallyflyingchampionship2021.com
This is what we are all working toward – don’t lose focus and hope – we are going to be a formidable team in the worlds.