Toyota Dealer Great North Rally - ROAD and RALLY ROUTE REPORT
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STAGE 1: STADIUM
3.31 KMS First car due 12:00 (Expected stage time 2:54)
This stage will be held at the Pietersburg Stadium. There are excellent spectator points. The roads are fairly good, tight with narrow corners.
STAGE 2: Maropa Sun CASINO
3.1 KMS first car due 12:28 (Expected stage time 2:45)
This is a new stage at the Casino. Rough in patches with rocky bits.
STAGE 3: ARMY
4.45 KMS First car due 13:01 (Expected stage time 3:15)
Using the outside area of the International Airport. Long straights, rough patches with 90degree corners.
STAGE FOUR: COWS
9.58 KMS First car due 13:30 (Expected stage time 6:40)
The cows will be missing or they were missing! The roads are fairly tight and narrow. Good spectator points on the main by-pass road to Tzaneen
STAGE FIVE: WOODBUSH or Gray Mist
19.75 KMS First car due 14:53 (Expected stage time 15:34)
This is now real rally country. Some known roads, good, and fast with twisty sections.
Pace notes will be severely missed as some corners can really catch you out!
20 MINUTES RESTRICTED SERVICE "A" KEET
STAGE SIX: WATER-SPLASH
8.24 KMS First car due 16:23 (Expected stage time 6:52)
The Water-splash is at the beginning of the stage. All in tea plantation. Roads fairly good, some mud patches due to irrigation. Will be very slippery when wet. (rain)
There will be a bit of a break before the next three night stages.
SERVICE AREA "B" KEET Restricted service Time 30 min First car due 15:51
START SECTION 2 First car Out 18h00
STAGE Seven: Forrest Hill
18.63 KMS First car due 18:18 (Expected stage time 15:40)
The first approximately five kilometres – very tight and dangerous if you leave the road. Big drops and tight corners. (Sorry no notes?)
This is followed by a fast twisty main road downhill. Tight with humps last part.
STAGE 8: TEST GROUNDS
7.61 KMS First car due 18:44 (Expected stage time 6:15)
Twisty roads, good gravel and the last section is a kilometre of tar in the Test grounds.
Please expect a lot of spectators and drive accordingly.
SERVICE "C" KEET - TIME RESTRICTED 20 MIN.
STAGE 9 GRENSHOEK
10.33 KMS First car due 19:45 (Expected stage time 08:10)
T-plantation – the first few kilometres will be on narrow tar then gravel. This road is very slippery when wet. Rough patches.
RESTRICTED SERVICE KEET "D" 45 MINUTES
PARC FERME at High School. First car due into Parc Ferme - 21h00
Saturday Morning.
First car starts @ 08h00
Stage 10 Eldorado
18.69 KMS First car due 08:25 (Expected stage time 14:45)
Known tight Forrest roads, good spectating.
RESTRICTED TIME SERVICE KEET "E" 20 MINUTES
STAGE 11 DAM
14.74 KMS First car due 09:28 (Expected stage time 11:57)
Good surface – fast and twisty – real driver’s stage.
SERVICE "F" KEET - TIME RESTRICTED 20 MIN.
STAGE 12 TRIANGLE
20.90 KMS First car due 10:38 (Expected stage time 17:15)
First part – twisty and narrow.
Middle – rocky and rough in patches
Last section – fast and twisty.
SERVICE "G" KEET - TIME RESTRICTED 20 MIN.
STAGE 13 CANAL
15.02 KMS First car due 11:47 (Expected stage time 13:29)
1ST nice fast and twisty – followed by a section next to the cannel, some corners tight and nasty dips could land you in the cold water.
Last part, tight forest.
SERVICE "H" KEET - TIME RESTRICTED 20 MIN.
RallyStar® NOTE: The last two stages are equal to half a regional rally. They will be demanding, and will determine whether you win or lose, finish or fail.
Stage 14 KEET
19.02 KMS First car due 12:55 (Expected stage time 16:07)
Tight forest with rocky middle section – tight corners next to dam can land you in the drink.
SERVICE "I" KEET - TIME RESTRICTED 20 MIN.
STAGE 15 AGATHA
27.90 KMS First car due 13:59 (Expected stage time 21:32)
This is the sting in the tail. The most demanding stage on the rally. Very tight first section. Big drops and tight corners.
Eases up on twisty road in the centre, followed by very fast twisty stuff in the end.
SERVICE "J" MAYERSRUS - TIME RESTRICTED 10 MIN.
Well, that is about it.
The outstanding aspect of the rally seems to be:-
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from Special Stage 5 the service area remains at the same place.
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The second important aspect is he “Sting in the Tail’.
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Tyre choice will play a major role in this rally.
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Temperatures will also determine a lot of things. If you are driving a car that tends to overheat – you need to make sure that you have all the fans working properly.
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Dust should not be such a big problem, but the irrigated patches in the Tea plantations could cause a problem or two.
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The dips next to the cannel have caught out a few guys in the past. When it is wet next to the cannel, one tends to go off on the opposite side of the cannel. It is only human to drive harder when the corner is away from the cannel than when it is in the direction of it.
Estimated times in stages are just that, estimates and have not been based on any previous times of competitors.
RallyStar will of course be reporting about every other aspect of this rally – let us know if there is anything special about your attempts.
Good luck and keep it going!
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