GEMMELL TAKES THE LEAD ON VW
author: Andries van der Walt
The Class S2000 Castrol Toyota Auris crew of Johnny Gemmell/Drew Sturrock have taken the lead on the VW Rally in Port Elizabeth after stage four. Gemmell was leading the rest of the field with a time of 44:6.7.
Second was Enzo Kuun/Guy Hodgson in a BP VW Class S2000 Polo on 44:17.8 followed in third position overall by Hein Lategan /Johan van der Merwe in a Toyota Auris on 44:19.4.
The early leader, Conrad Rautenbach in a Ford Fiesta, had dropped to 4th overall on a time of 44.20.1, by the BP VW team of Jannie Habig/Ralph Pitchford 2 seconds behind Rautenbach.
Earlier reports that the car of Gavin Cronje had been damaged by fire has been clarified. Cronje went of the road and the car caused the dry grass to catch fire. Cronje and his co-driver Van Aardt Schoeman stopped to put out the fire before continuing.
In the meantime the VW Rally has claimed another top contender. Evan Hutchinson/Elvene Coetzee in a Motorite VW Polo withdrew as a result of a broken gearbox. In Class A7 Gugu Zulu also in a BP VW has exited the event. The reason is not known at this stage.
The Class N4 car of Mike Nathan/Etienne Lourens is also out of the event.
The final stage today is at the Aldo Scribante Raceway before the cars are parked at Kings Beach for the overnight stop.
The VW Rally is the 5th round of the Sasol SA National Rally Championship.
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