Race Registration

The Northam Zondereinde Bushveld 400, the fifth and final round of the 2026 SA Rally-Raid Championship that takes place on 13 and 14 November in the Thabazimbi area in the Limpopo Province, will not only be the title decider in various class championships, but it will also welcome eight celebrated international competitors, who will compete in South Africa for the first time, to the race and spectators and enthusiasts will be spoilt with racing action at the highest level.

Only one of the available national SARRC titles has been finalised and due to various permutations, anything can still happen in the chase for the remaining titles. Add to that the participation of sensational racing machinery and talent abound, the event will no doubt end the season on a spectacularly high note.

Two Toyota Gazoo Racing teams have been victorious so far this season with the defending drivers’ champion, Saood Variawa (Toyota Hilux IMT EVO), this year partnered by Charan Moore, taking the first win of the season while their team-mates, Guy Botterill/Henry Köhne, scored a hat-trick by winning the previous three events. Variawa/Moore experienced a few unlucky incidents that put them out of contention for the title, nonetheless they would like to end the season on a high note – as would the winning combination of  Botterill/Köhne.

Gareth Woolridge/Boyd Dreyer (Castrol NWM Ford Rally-Raid Evo Plus) were also hard hit with a few difficulties this season, but perseverance and determination still  keep them in the fight for the overall navigators’ and Ultimate FIA T1+ titles. They finished on the podium after each event and victory will be the perfect way to end the season.

Although the rest of the field in Ultimate FIA T1+ will have no pressure to fight for titles the competition will be powerful. Woolridge/Dreyer will be joined by the Brazilian Marcos Baumart, a familiar face in the championship and the experienced Alberto Andreotti who sat alongside Baumgart in the 2018 KZN Battlefield 400 race, the father and son duo of Mike and Luke Lawlor and Danie Ludick with stand-in navigator Adriaan Roets deputising for the  incapacitated Denzil Williamson, with the affable Namibian, Wilro Dippenaar and experienced navigator, Carolyn Swan (NWM Ford Rally-Raid Evo Plus) will be making his SARRC debut, adding to the anticipated action.,

Also in the mix will be the young lady driver, Puck Klaassen who will be campaigning for the second time in the #TeamHilux Rally-Raid Toyota DKR T1+ Evo with Danie Stassen reading her the notes. The pair finished fifth overall first time out and will aim for another good result. The seasoned German driver, Daniel Schröder and Juan Möhr (WCT VW Amarok) will go for another top five result while the young Dutch duo, Pim Klaassen and lady navigator, Sasha Siripanyavuthi (DaklaPack Rallysport Red-Lined T1+ GTR) will again be on the start line.

The Ultimate SA T1+ title battle is going down to the wire with a mere five points separating the class leaders, Johan and Sean van Staden from their Red-Lined Revo T1+ rivals, Philip Botha/Andries Mynhardt. Two more teams competing with Red-Lined Revo vehicles, Abrie and Iaan Olivier (VAPS HCV Red-Lined Revo T1+) and the Dutch couple, Dave and Tessa Klaassen (DaklaPack Rallysport Revo GTR), will be between the teams also competing for the best overall result while German driver, Jurgen Schröder and Rikus Fourie (WCT VW Amarok), who missed the Vryheid event, will aim for another class victory.

The encounters in the Challenger class will present a new mantle at the Northam Zondereinde Bushveld 400,  privileged to have four entries from the legendary Audi Quattro vehicles piloted by experienced international competitors. The 1985 Replica Audi Quattro 4WD cars of the QFF Dutch Quattro Legends Team earned an enviable reputation competing in the 2025 Dakar Rally with Erik van Loon winning the H4 Class of the Dakar Classic while he finished 31st overall. Hein Verschuuren will navigate for Van Loon.

Two more drivers, Peter van den Bosch and Marcel van Vliet, are also highly experienced drivers with resumes that include, among others, top 10 finishes in the truck category of the Dakar Rally. Van den Bosch will have Hans Brand as navigator while Van Vliet will have Jon Kok next to him. Marcel Pronk has also been competing for decades and his participation in especially the Dakar Rally, includes doing so in the motorcycle category and as navigator for Van Vliet in the truck category. He now finds himself behind the wheel of his own Audi Quattro and Bob Coerse will read him the notes.

The four Dutch Quattro Legends will be joined in the Challenger Class by the young Dutch driver, Henk Klaassen and Gerhardt Schutte (DaklaPack Rallysport Taurus T3Max) and Schalk Burger/Armand du Toit (King Price Xtreme Ford Ranger Raptor) also in the line-up.

In the Adventurer Class, Peet Victor/VanZyl Jonck (VAPS HCV Rally-Raid Red-Lined VK50) have claimed two victories and lead the class, but this title is still wide open as second-placed Nielen Marx/Rikus Hattingh, competing in a similar vehicle, are still very much in the running. The leaders will have some backup as their team-mates, Tyler Botha/Kyle Lotter, also competing in a Red-Lined VK50, will be looking to strengthen their third place in the championship.

Geoff Minnitt/Leander Pienaar (Hydro Power Equipment Can-Am Maverick R) will be joined by another pair of new-comers to the SARRC Eric de Wet and Emil Euler in the Dew Plant Hire Can-Am Maverick R in the SSV Class.

The Northam Zondereinde Bushveld 400 starts on Friday, 13 November at 09:30 when a 22-kilometre Qualifying Race will determine the starting order for Stage One at 13:00. This racing section will be 108 kilometres in distance and will also serve as Stage Two that continues at 08:30 on Saturday morning. Stage Three will be a real humdinger and will also start and finish at Koedoeskop Laerskool, approximately 44 kilometres south of Thabazimbi just off the R511 and will serve as the venue for Race Headquarters as well as the DSP while the final podium ceremonies will also take place here.

JACO JONCK

COMPETITOR LIAISON

Jaco Jonck serves as Competitor Relations Officer for SARRC, acting as the primary liaison between competitors, teams, and event officials. With a strong technical background and a deep understanding of the operational and regulatory aspects of motorsport, he supports competitors in navigating event procedures, regulations, and administrative requirements. Jaco plays a key role in ensuring that competitor concerns are addressed promptly and professionally, helping to maintain a positive, well-managed racing environment.

WAMMY HADDAD

TECHNICAL ADVISOR

William “Wammy” Haddad is a long-standing and respected member of the South African rally raid community, bringing decades of hands-on experience in off-road and cross-country motorsport to the South African Rally Raid Championship (SARRC). Renowned for his technical knowledge and practical approach, Wammy supports competitors and officials across events, helping ensure vehicles meet safety and regulatory requirements and that operations run smoothly.

LORI ZAVATTONI

SPONSORSHIP MANAGER

Lori Zavattoni is a key member of the South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) team, leading sponsorship management and partner engagement across the championship. In her role, she is responsible for the acquisition, coordination and activation of sponsors, ensuring that commercial partners receive measurable value and high-impact brand exposure at SARRC events.

In addition, Lori oversees VIP hospitality, partner hosting and front-of-house operations, delivering premium experiences for sponsors, stakeholders and invited guests. With strong organisational skills and a commitment to excellence, she plays a vital role in the professional execution of SARRC events and in strengthening long-term sponsor relationships that support the continued growth of rally raid racing in South Africa.

RUDI MULLER

ROUTE DIRECTOR

Rudi Muller is the Route Director for SARRC, responsible for designing and managing the championship’s challenging and iconic courses. With more than a decade of experience navigating South Africa’s diverse and rugged terrain, both as a competitor and route planner, Rudi understands how to create courses that test skill, strategy, and endurance. His meticulous approach ensures that every route is not only thrilling and fair for competitors but also safe and engaging for spectators. Rudi’s passion for off-road motorsport and deep knowledge of the country’s landscapes make him an invaluable part of SARRC’s commitment to world-class rally raid experiences.

CHARMAINE FORTUNE

SECRETARY

Charmaine Fortune is a media and communications professional who has been the long-standing Secretary of the SARRC and an integral pillar of the organisation, having played a key role in its operations and development for more than three decades. Her dedication, expertise, and institutional knowledge make her an indispensable part of SARRC, ensuring that the championship continues to operate at the highest standards of professionalism, safety, and competitive fairness.

Beyond her work with SARRC, Charmaine has been a highly respected figure in South African motorsport administration for many years. Her career includes involvement in some of the country’s most prestigious motorsport events, writing extensively on race outcomes, event previews, competitor profiles, and championship standings, keeping the public and participants informed. Her extensive experience spans race organisation, regulatory compliance, event management, and stakeholder coordination, giving her a uniquely comprehensive understanding of what it takes to run world-class motorsport events.

Charmaine’s tireless commitment to the sport, her meticulous approach to administration, and her deep connections across the motorsport community have been instrumental in growing rally raid in South Africa.

EVAN HUTCHISON

RACE DIRECTOR

Evan Hutchison is a seasoned motorsport professional and the Race Director for SARRC, with extensive experience in rally and off-road racing and multiple national titles. Evan has a deep understanding of race dynamics, route safety, and event logistics. He oversees the planning, execution, and safety of every SARRC event, ensuring compliance with international regulations while delivering a fair, challenging, and thrilling competition for all participants. His hands-on experience and commitment to excellence make him a central figure in upholding the championship’s reputation for world-class rally-raid racing.

SANDRA LABUSCAGE-JONCK

DIRECTOR

Sandra Labuscagne-Jonck is a trailblazer in the South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC), with a motorsport career that began before the age of 18. She initially competed as a navigator alongside her father, a seasoned rally veteran, gaining invaluable experience in the sport from a young age. Sandra later transitioned to the driver’s seat, making history as the first woman to compete as a driver in the Special Vehicle Category Championship.

A qualified veterinarian by profession, Sandra has successfully balanced a demanding professional career with high-level motorsport competition. She has competed in multiple international rally-raid events, representing South Africa on the global stage, and made history as the first female competitor to receive Protea Colours in Rally Raid, recognising her exceptional sporting achievements.

Beyond competition, Sandra has been actively involved in initiatives such as the FIA Women in Motorsport Development Programme, using her platform to inspire increased female participation in motorsport and to uplift communities through meaningful engagement and development initiatives.

In addition to her sporting achievements, Sandra serves as a Motorsport South Africa (MSA) Board Member and Director, contributing to the strategic governance and long-term development of the sport at a national level.

In her role as Director of the South African Rally-Raid Championship, Sandra brings strategic leadership and decades of hands-on motorsport experience. Her deep involvement in South Africa’s off-road racing landscape—as both a competitor and event organiser—provides her with a unique understanding of the needs of drivers, navigators, teams and stakeholders. She has led key initiatives to professionalise rally raid racing and to broaden participation across the sport.

Sandra’s operational excellence, combined with her passion for motorsport, has been instrumental in positioning SARRC as the benchmark for rally raid racing in South Africa, ensuring that every event is delivered to the highest standards of safety, professionalism and competitive excellence.

ARCHIE RUTHERFORD

CEO

Given the nickname “Ranger Buck” during his university years, Rutherford is a qualified game ranger and FGASA Field Guide who grew up spending time on his family’s game farm bordering Zimbabwe. Naturally he has a passion for African terrain and adventure, which is synonymous with SARRC.

His background also includes a professional engineering qualification and higher diplomas in arbitration and mediation, a varied professional history before focusing on safaris and motorsports.

Archie Rutherford leads the SARRC with a lifelong passion for adventure, motorsport, and the open trails of South Africa. Having competed in off-road racing for over two decades, Archie has firsthand experience of the challenges, thrills, and technical demands of rally raid competition. Under his leadership, SARRC has grown into Africa’s premier rally raid championship, delivering professionally run, world-class events that test skill, endurance, and determination while showcasing South Africa’s rugged landscapes. Archie is widely respected in the motorsport community for his vision, hands-on approach, and commitment to growing the sport locally and internationally.