Summarize

Two all-new REVO+ GT-Rs are part of Red-Lined Motorsport’s four-car team that is ready to kick off the 2024 South African Rally Raid season at Malelane’s Nkomazi 400 in Mpumalanga over the 19-20 April weekend. The all-new Red-Lined REVO+ GT-Rs are powered by the same 421Kw 632Nm twin turbocharged V6 engine found under the hood of the fearsome ‘Godzilla’ R35 Nissan GT-R sports coupé. 

“Our Red-Lined rally-raid race cars have developed consistently since we first started out with the previous generation T1 Nissan Navara VQ40’s over fourteen years ago,” team principal Terence Marsh explains. “Our trusty Red-Lined VK50 and VK56 models essentially evolved out of the old Navaras and over time even resembled the later generation D23 road going Navara. Never mind the fact that we had always ran the normally aspirated Nissan V8 engines to date, that tradition then continued into our own all-new Nissan V8-powered Red-Lined REVO T1 and REVO T1+ models.

“The top FIA T1+ rally raid class then however evolved to allow turbocharged V6 engines, and as such the technology game has moved on considerably. But hey, why break with a great tradition? Nissan builds one of the best turbocharged V6 engines in the world today in its incredible ‘Godzilla’ R35 GT-R, which just happens to be a perfect fit for our latest rally-raid weapon. 

“Red-Lined Motorsport is delighted to have two all-new Red-Lined REVO+ GT-Rs ready for action as part of our four-car factory team headed to the season-opening Nkomazi 400 in Malelane this weekend. We simply cannot wait to start with this development program and gain the necessary data that we require to maximise this thrilling package into the future. More importantly, we will do this in the most competitive rally raid championship on earth, and against some of the best designed and built T1+ race cars in the world.”

Stalwarts Chris Visser and Albertus Venter will give their all-new Red-Lined REVO+ GT-R its first national outing at Malalane. The pair is justifiably excited about their prospects in their second season aboard a Red-Lined REVO+ in the South African Rally Raid championship, but this time with the mighty Godzilla power, of course operating within FIA performance regulations. They will be backed by the experienced Dutch pairing of Dave Klaassen and Tessa Rooth who will also be out for the first time in their DaklaPack REVO+ GT-R.

19-year-old Pim Klaassen heads to the Nkomazi 400 fresh off a great outing in the treacherous, wet and muddy Portuguese third round World Rally Raid Championship last week. As part of our youth development program, Pim steps up to the Ultimate T1+ class in the DaklaPack REVO+ V8 for the first time alongside local notes man Rikus Hattingh. Red-Lined Motorsport will also field the ever-consistent pairing of Philip Botha and Roelof Janse van Vuren in their Penta Motor Group VK56 in the T1 Ultimate class.

In addition to the factory team, privateer Red-Lined T1 entries competing for podium places include Gerhard and Rudi Heinlein’s in their Sirkel N VK56 and Johan de Bruyn and Adriaan Roets in their OdorCure Revo T1 machine.

“It’s been a long break since the final round of 2023 South African Rally Raid Championship last November, so Red-Lined Motorsport’s South African headquarters simply cannot wait to start the 2024 season,” Terence Marsh concluded. “It’s also the start of our thrilling new Godzilla era, so to say that we are looking forward to this weekend’s Nkomazi 400 is something of an understatement, but best of luck to all our race crews and our entire support team as we embark on these new challenges and adventures!”