- The SARRC returned to the Western Cape for the first time in 14 years.
- Castrol NWM Ford secured the Team of the Event award, as well as the coveted Constructors’ award
- The fifth and penultimate round of the SA Rally-Raid Championship takes place at Vryheid on 31 October and 1 November
The Castrol NWM Ford Rally-Raid Team overcame brutal terrain and relentless challenges to secure a double podium at the Outeniqua 400, the fourth round of the 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC).
This event marked a milestone return for the championship, with the Western Cape hosting a round of the SARRC for the first time in 14 years. Based near Louvain Guest Farm, the race delivered a punishing combination of rocky trails, tight passes and narrow high-speed sections. Dust and steep drop-offs amplified the difficulty, while jagged rocks proved to be the biggest hazard of all – punctures shaped the leaderboard across both days and contributed to high attrition.
Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer, who arrived second in the championship standings, had to dig deep after a puncture in the 28 km Falken Wild Peak Qualifying Race dropped them to 10th, over two minutes behind the leaders. Opening the road in Friday’s Stage One, the pair produced a clean and composed drive to take the stage win. Day Two threw more obstacles their way, with two further punctures costing precious minutes on the opening 178 km loop. Refusing to give in, Woolridge and Dreyer fought back with an impressive second loop performance through the Langkloof and Kammanassie Mountains, securing second overall, 60 seconds behind Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy, TeamHilux RallyRaid Toyota DKR T1+.
Reflecting on the weekend, Woolridge said, “That was one of the most enjoyable events we’ve done in a long time. At times it felt like four completely different races in one, with the terrain changing constantly. The rocky sections made avoiding punctures absolutely crucial but Boyd did a fantastic job on the navigation and we really enjoyed the tighter, more technical terrain. It was tough, but great fun to drive.”
Team-mates Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea found this terrain more familiar, delivering their strongest result of the year with third place overall. Reunited after Cincea missed the previous round, the duo seemed perfectly in control on the rocky trails and were running as high as second for much of the event. In a demonstration of teamwork, they made way in the dust to assist Woolridge and Dreyer’s charge, while keeping their own campaign steady as rivals faltered. After a trouble-free two days their efforts were reward with a podium finish, ensuring two Castrol NWM Ford crews featured in the top three.
It was a tougher weekend for Wors Prinsloo and André Vermeulen, fresh off their best-ever SARRC result at the previous round. Their race was hampered early by a puncture in qualifying, leaving them stuck in dust and down in 13th on the first day. Mechanical issues then struck on Day Two, with a driveshaft failure ending their challenge.
The punishing Western Cape terrain also caught out the championship leaders. Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet, who saw their race unravel after a slow speed rollover left their Hilux stranded on its roof. They rejoined but slipped to 15th overall after the first day. Despite a strong recovery effort on Day Two, track position left them well outside the podium fight with a fifth-place finish.
The Outeniqua 400 marked the halfway point of the season and tightened the title battle considerably. The Castrol NWM Ford Rally-Raid Team’s double podium result keeps Gareth Woolridge firmly in the hunt, locked in a three-way fight with De Villiers and Variawa. Just a handful of points separate the leading contenders, setting up a dramatic run-in to the final two rounds of the 2025 SARRC.
Team principal Neil Woolridge said, “To have two Ford Rangers on the podium is a fantastic result and a big reward for the whole team. We knew how tough this event would be, so to come away with second and third is hugely satisfying. After the last round we made a number of improvements to the cars, focusing on both reliability and performance, and it was clear this weekend that the work has paid off. The drivers and co-drivers delivered under really difficult conditions, and this result keeps us right in the fight for the championship. To leave this event back in the championship fight and to have secured the Team of the Event award as well as the coveted Constructors’ award is a testament to all the hard work the team has been putting in behind the scenes.”
Teams will now prepare for the fifth and penultimate round of the SA Rally-Raid Championship that takes place at Vryheid on 31 October and 1 November 2025.
