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 | ABSA 2012: South African Championship contenders chase a pot of Gold.
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The South African "ABSA Off Road Championship" title contenders will be chasing a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow on the "Gold 400", the final event of the season, in Westonaria on November 23 and 24.
For the second year in a row both overall championships in the Production and Special Vehicle championships have gone all the way to the wire, and will be decided at the final event. The Gold 400 is also the third event of the season to venture into new territory.
Race headquarters, the start/finish and the designated service park will all be located at the Kloof Country Club in Glenharvie. This is approximately 70 kilometres west of Johannesburg, with the Atlas Copco Timbertrack in Richmond and the recent Human Auto 400 in Thaba ‘Nchu the other events to break new ground.
"We have had incredible support and co-operation from landowners and the local community," said route director Adri Roets. "The race has generated a great deal of interest on the West Rand and is going to be a successful finale to the season."
The Donaldson Prologue to determine race grid positions will be run over a 60 kilometre route that from the start runs east towards Hills Haven and the R28 to Randfontein and Vereeniging. The route then runs through Modderfontein farm to the Peter Wright Dam and back to Kloof Country Club.
The race will be run over two loops of 180 kilometres that take in the prologue route. The course then continues from the Peter Wright Dam towards the N12 Potchefstroom road via Waterpan towards the Baragwaneth Aerodrome and across the randtjies to Hiltonia.
The route continues along the ridge to Jagtfontein, Hartbeesfontein and Kalbasfontein towards Fochville and Wildebeeskraal. Crews then head for home via Doornpoort with the route a challenging mixture of fast open sections along firebreaks, koppies and rocky sections.
"The route is spectator friendly and there are numerous good viewing points," said Roets. "With championships at stake we have tried to make the course as challenging as possible.
"Moving into virgin territory for the third time this season is also going to put a little extra pressure on those crews fighting for championships."
The Donaldson Prologue will start at 12h30 on November 23 and the race at 08h30 the next day. Public entry to race headquarters, the start/finish, designated service park and spectator viewing points will be free of charge.
2012/11/01 | 13:39 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/FORTUNE
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