2010 VOLKSWAGEN RALLY
author: Leon Botha
2010 VOLKSWAGEN RALLY 23/24 July 2010
Needless to say - the 'soccer break' is about to come to an end although you may still believe that you do have lots of time to relax?
In two weeks time I will be off to do the Route Notes of the Volkswagen Rally and then in less than 14 days the rally will be on or shall I rather say, the war will resume?
Volkswagen is known to go to town with this event and I have always liked it from a marketing point - even when they say that the budget is 'tight'?
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I thought it might be a good idea to open the week with something to look at?
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A day ago I received some interesting stats on this rally which is going into its 28th year.
Analysing the results I could not help but shake my head in sympathy for one of the most loyal supporters of rallies in SA, Volkswagen who sponsors and then seem to have a hell of a time keeping up with the opposition as far as winning goes.
Before completing this article I phoned a few rally "experts" - so they claim - to ask them who they thought won this event most?
Driver: Sarel van der Merwe almost 80%
Make: Volkswagen just over 70%
Nice try I said, and had to salaam in the general direction of where I thought the grave of Alex Blignaut was, as I believe it was he who promoted van der Merwe under the Kreepy Krauly banner in the Escort? I may be wrong but whoever promoted him did a good job and whoever was responsible to make "the real champion" an idol under the general public - failed somewhat?
The fact that van der Merwe could not keep his trap shut at any moment - never mind the right or wrong moments, could have contributed to the fact that most people still think that he won everything - and that proves my point.
No matter how good or even in some cases bad you are - get into the news or draw enough attention to what you have or have not done - and Bob's your uncle! Look at halfwit Maboppa or whatisname?
When we look at the stats we see that Serge Damseaux won the Volkswagen rally no less than 12 times from 27 - and he did not start all 27 times!
Sarel only managed to do this 5 times of which the three in the unbeatable Quattro should not even count!
Ok, Ok Coleman I am only joking - Sarel was a great driver and did more for the sport than a number of those who believe they were great put together, but still he won 5 to Serge's 12 times.
Then in 3rd place with 3 wins is Habig while Geoff Mortimer and Hannes Grobler managed two wins each.
Enzo pulled off only one win so far and so did Hergen Fekken and Mark Cronje.
Worst is still to come for Volkswagen.
Looking through tinted Volkswagen shades - Toyota managed to grab the top podium positions no less than 13 times, while VW had to rely on the Quattro to get them 5 top of the podium spots and "genuine Volkswagens" also pulled off the same number of wins - 5!
Ford managed one and Daewoo one! Both these wins were in the hands of Sarel. I respect these wins more than the wins in the Quattro and they at least prove that he could drive a rally car?
Now that I have Keith Coleman - Sarel's biggest, literary and figuratively, fan, all worked up, lets have a look at what can be expected this year?
After the break I presume we will have a full field of S2000 cars running, while we should get at least 12 entries or so combined in the other classes?
I don't think there will be much to choose between Volkswagen, Toyota or the two Fords although the latter two cars still need to prove their point under real pressure.
The game has stepped up its pace - and despite silly presumptions and half hearted or is it hysterical or panic stricken efforts to tone down the intensity, those involved will have to realise that we are now almost - yes, you read correctly - ALMOST at the top of the current game.
Regular readers will recall that I have said about a year or so ago, that a driver will step over the current safety border and go browsing in the reception area of the place where they play soft music and sit behind the white counters waiting for new arrivals.
Or so it will initially feel until he realises that the reception area was yet another mirage and that it is still a little way further down the road.
I believe that - and I say it while blocking with both hands - not one single driver has yet driven an S2000 to its full potential for more than 50% of any event!
Over its limits? Yes - a number of Andretti's went right over the edge! And below its potential? - believe me a few teams will smell the moment they accidentally get to these cars full potential.
Right there spot on - there where the gods of motorsport smile on you and the fans grab their children, picnic baskets, and green BP Volkswagen caps to run, while medics feel around for the handles of the stretcher and where Route notes change into 'pace notes' and the band plays "Happy days are here again" - that is where the fun and games lie!
The secret will be to know exactly where the limits start and where they stop - it is a narrow band - a band where true champions can stay all day long - on condition that they do not blink both eyes at once or the navigator breathes between calls!
I can already feel the cars, the power and speed through Culturama - hear the screams of power happy engines and see the long faces of some drivers when interviewed after the stage, blaming all and sundry except the ass behind the multi million Rand steering wheel!
Port Elizabeth - here we come!
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