The veteran South African driver Chris Visser along with his experienced navigator Phillip Herselman defied the odds to win the Toyota Kalahari Desert Race 1000 in a Toyota Hilux in Selibi Phikwe, a small mining town in eastern Botswana on the final day of the race.
The town which was hosting the 3 day event for the first time was buzzing with activity as hundreds of spectators thronged a small hill surrounding the entry and finish points at the Selibi Phikwe stadium to cheer on the weary drivers.
Visser who had surrendered pole position on the start grid on the final day to his young compatriot Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, also in a Toyota Hilux, was ecstatic and in a state of disbelief about the final outcome.
“It was a good race and it is just unbelievable. Car was very good on very tricky terrain. You had to be careful. There was a bit of overdriving. The route was tight and you could lose tyres,” said Chris Visser, after winning and securing automatic free entry into Dakar Rally scheduled for 5th January 2020 in Saudi Arabia.
Henk Lategan alongside Brett Cummings were victims of a wheel coming off on the final round of the race whilst leading the race and one of the race favourites Giniel De Villiers and Dennis Murphy also endured some race drama after hitting a tree stump on the first day of the race.
The tricky 1000 km veld sand race route was challenging because it was not a straight desert race that most endurance drivers were used to. Lategan for example was maybe guilty of overdriving and was undone by 3 car punctures and a wheel coming off when he appeared certain to win.
“Trees were too close to the road and we hit them loosening parts of the car and breaking panels,” said Henk Lategan, Toyota driver speaking to The Tswana Times on Saturday after the first day of the race.
He added cryptically, “It is a tough race to finish. Led race last year in Jwaneng and broke gear box and we dropped lead.”
It was not third time lucky for the talented young driver with mishaps undermining podium finishes in this grueling endurance event. Last year at the Desert race in Jwaneng Lategan also suffered mechanical problems when leading the event and appearing certain to win.
“We started a bit fast and got a puncture early on. We changed tyres and got going. We got another puncture a little later on. Little tree stumps and rocks caused punctures,” reflected Lategan.
The Botswana Government moved the event to Selibi Phikwe, to resuscitate an ailing economy adversely affected by the closure of BCL copper mine in October 2016 resulting in 5,000 job losses.
The route was tight and was dominated by overgrown mopane veld sands forcing average speeds to go down significantly. Toyota again provided its value as an off road car securing the podium and the runner spot with Shameer Variawa and Juan Mohr.
The Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) officials were however happy with turnout of spectators and the socio-economic benefits generated.
Sam Lephalo, acting BTO Public Relations and Communications Manager, said “Moving event was a positive move. Region is rich in cultural heritage. Areas like Tuli Block (Sojwane Ruins), Letsibogo Dam (popular fishing spot) and GooMoremi Gorge Resort. It provides rich experience for spectators beyond watching cars, bikes and quad races.”
He said, “It is a 3 day event and offers economic opportunities for informal traders cooking food for spectators, bed and breakfasts providing accommodation and filling stations providing petrol for spectators. It is hoped that experiences in different roles for SPEDU, Town council and BMS will also build capacity to host big evens for future events so exaction is seamless without bottleneck.”
BTO privatized a significant number of services like provision of mobile ablutions at spectator points, tents at camp grounds, marquee tents for VIP’s and media, catering for spectators for informal traders and Music festival for spectators during the three day event.
The music festival hosted big names like Mafikizolo, DJ Drat (RSA), Master KG (RSA), Amapiano (RSA) alongside popular local acts like Vee, Charma Gal, ATI and celebrity local DJ Sly.
14 spectator points littered the Desert race route in 2019 with about 5,000 congregated along the A15 road between Selibi Phikwe and Lebale at a cattle post in Dikgokong to whistle and ululate when drivers passed in a cloud of dust.
