Martin Botha to navigate in ARC only
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Fernando and Martin Botha - split to cope with the pressure.
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Martin Botha who has been in the co-driver's seat with Fernando Rueda in the Sasol supported Mitsubishi Lancer Evo since the beginning of the year, will for the rest of the year only compete with Rueda in the FIA African Rally championship.
Speaking from Cape Town Rueda said that Martin was under heavy business pressure and it was not possible for him to do the two championships.
"We discussed this even before the Toyota Dealers Cape Rally and Martin chose to do the ARC events. He has not won an African Rally Championship title yet, but has been a SA National Co-driver's champion. "I then contacted Pierre Arries who agreed to do the rest of the season with me, except for the Sasol Rally and the Mountain Trial. He is not available, but Piet Swanepoel has agreed to be my partner on the two rallies that Arries are unable to make", Rueda said.
He added that the logistics of doing the ARC and the SA National Championship "were horrific". "After the next ARC event I will leave my car there. But I have had to employ a second service crew to assist me on the ARC and also had to buy a second service van. There is just not enough time in a day for one crew to look after two cars for two championships especially taking just the time to drive to and from the ARC events from Cape Town in to consideration", he said. "They will hardly be here, then they have to leave again".
"And since Martin and I have already won two of the rounds and are leading the ARC, it would be senseless not to do some of the other events and try and win the championship", he said.
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