Summarize

Marsh & Greyling lead a Red-Lined Kalahari Rally clean sweep

Red-Lined Motorsport Adventures literally tamed the Kalahari Desert when three of the team's VK56 Evo2s stormed home to a 1-2-3 clean sweep at the 2021 Kalahari Rally on Friday. Team boss Terence Marsh and Riaan Greyling’s Penta Motul machine won the epic 3,700 kilometre seven-day event through the glorious Kalahari Desert from teammates Eben Basson and Gerhard Schutte and Philip Botha and Roelof Janse van Vuren's Dakar Challenge winning Penta Motor Group machine.

The three Red-Lined machines delivered a trouble free cumulative 11,100 km and 90 hours of racing as they won six of the seven stages as Marsh and Basson took three days each. Botha and Janse van Vuren also earned a handy discount to their planned Dakar 2023 entry fee.

“What an incredible week!” Terence Marsh concluded. “We raced for 30 hours over seven days and across 3,700 kilometres of absolutely beautiful Kalahari terrain. “All three Red-Lined VK56s never missed a beat and we came home in a clean sweep 1-2-3 in an event that was tough on both man and machine.

“Wow, what an incredible week in the Kalahari!” Eben Basson smiled. “This was the biggest challenge of my short driving career. “Second overall with great pace, wins on three of the seven days is so sweet and we also retain our 100% finishing record after almost 10,000 km of flat out racing, a year into my career. “Thanks so much to Terence and the dedicated and professional Red-Lined team!”

“The Kalahari Rally was an incredible experience,” Philip Botha pointed out. “Our first outing in our new Penta Motor Group Red-Lined VK56 was also our biggest ever challenge and we were far more competitive this week too. “We learned so many lessons. “Of course we are super proud to have finished and on the podium at that, which also keeps our 100% finishing record in place! “More important, the stunning Kalahari has helped us learn so much as we prepare to fulfill our dream of competing in the 2023 Dakar.” 

“We must also individually salute our incredible crew back in the bivouac," team principal Marsh added. "When us three crews arrived back every evening, that was just the start of each day’s race for our technicians, who delivered three trouble-free cars for seven incredible days. “We are truly blessed and immensely proud to be surrounded by this multi-talented team of dedicated individuals who form the backbone of our operation. “Well done to each and every one of you - this result is for you!"

The week started dramatically for team boss Marsh and lead driver Conrad Rautenbach, who fell ill on the eve of the race. That left seasoned campaigner Terence with little option but to jump into the driver’s seat of the number 308 VK56 alongside Riaan Greyling. ”That was a huge last minute curve ball!” Terence admitted. “It's two years since I last raced competitively and the right decision was probably not to race, but I had little option. So before we knew it, Riaan and I were racing and drawing on every moment of our experience!” 

The Kalahari Rally served the perfect endurance event and training platform for the three Red-Lined crews. It is the only race that delivers seven days of back-to-back racing to help the team refine how it manages man and machine day to day as it must do at the Dakar. It's completely different to the regular SA Cross Country races and offers a very unique, condensed insight to what it takes to race the Dakar.

Red-Lined Motorsport Adventures now returns to its regular South African Cross Country Racing routine with the 800 km 4x4 Mega World NAMPO double header national at Bothaville 1-2 October.


*Red-Lined Motorsport competes with premium strategic partners, the Penta Motor Group, BFGoodrich, Motul, Dragon Energy, Jonnesway Tools, Expand a Sign and Wheel Collision. 

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Red-Lined Motorsport

What:Kalahari Rally Report
Where:Kalahari Desert
When:4-10 September 2021
Community:South Africa National

For further information please contact terence@redlined.co.za

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