Hilma Nalupe
The dusty roads of Gobabis came alive on Saturday as the town hosted the fifth leg of the Namibian National Rally Championship.
The event was sponsored by Shell V-Power, drawing motorsport fans from far and wide for a day of high-speed action and roaring engines.
A total of 16 cars were entered for the event, though two teams were forced to withdraw, one before the start due to brake trouble and another after the first stage following gearbox issues.
Despite the early setbacks, the remaining competitors delivered thrilling performances across the Gobabis terrain.
Clerk of the course Clive Strydom said the event was met with tremendous enthusiasm from locals.
“The Gobabis community came out in numbers to support the rally drivers. By the looks on their faces, it was evident that they enjoyed the show from the racers,” he said.
Crowd favourites Allan Martin and his navigator Maretha Olivier, driving their Skoda, stormed to victory in the Rally Class, finishing with a time of 1:09:25.
In the Challenge Class, Rian Kritzinger and Dalton Bezuidenhout powered their Ford Ranger to first place with an impressive 1:06:35.
Safety remained a top priority for officials throughout the day.
“The main challenge, as at most rallies, is keeping the spectators safe. But the community of Gobabis adhered to the officials’ instructions. We were glad to report no accidents,” Strydom noted.
The Namibian National Rally Championship features six rounds each year, with the final leg set for Swakopmund in November.
There the country’s top rally drivers will battle it out for the season’s overall title.