25 June 2023
Sello Motseta
The relatively inexperienced 29 year old Gareth Woodridge took the podium in the Desert Race over the weekend whilst his younger brother Lance Woodridge took the silver spoon at an incident packed race on the penultimate day Sunday in Jwanengwhere the furor over fire that damaged over 47 cars threatened to overshadow, an entertaining final day at the popular motor sport event.
Driving in a Ford with race number 277, Woodridge alongside Boyd Dreyer crossed the line in 11:14:33 hours putting an emphatic end to the dominate performance of Toyota in the distance event.
“I think the improvements in the engine control, gears and suspension have really helped a lot,” said an elated Woodridgein an interview with The Tswana Times after the event.
Woodridge took the black and white chequered flag about 4 minutes ahead of his Ford counterparts at 11:18:15, ensuring a 1, 2 finish for the FORD team.
Toyota appeared to be playing catch up timeously when theyentered the pit at second and appeared to be poised to make a timely assault on the winner medal in final lap. Circumstances however conspired against them fortuitously and they found themselves nursing a bronze medal with opportunities to lament and reminisce about what could have been as they eventually ran out of luck.
Toyota Driver Guy Botterill, said “We were driving with rear wheel drive on penultimate day because we lost the drive shaft. We also struggled on last lap because we hit a vulture so struggled with vision because of broken window the whole loop.”
A number of drivers complained about the overgrown vegetation and the damage it did to the cars. The same complaint was raised by local motocycle kingpin Ross Branch, who whilst happy with another win, appeared to be thankful he had completed course without incident.
“Just happy to be in one piece,” said Branch after crossing the line.
