- Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer went into the final day leading the standings by over a minute from their nearest challengers
- A broken windscreen cost them valuable minutes as visibility was severely affected out on the final stage
- NWM Ford is proud to enter 2026 season with the same sponsors, with some big announcements coming soon
Motorsport can be cruel and unpredictable, where even the most meticulous preparation and unwavering dedication can’t always guarantee the desired result. The Castrol NWM Ford Rally-Raid Team experienced exactly that in the final round of the 2025 SA Rally-Raid Championship, as the title hopes of championship leaders Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer were undone by an unexpected setback at the Northam Zondereinde Bushveld 400.
The finale unfolded under sweltering temperatures soaring above 30°C across both days, adding another layer of difficulty to a route that was already one of the toughest of the season. The terrain around Koedoeskop delivered a brutal mix of tight, twisty second-gear sections, offset by fast, flat-out straights that demanded absolute focus. Recent rains had thickened the bushveld, hiding rocks, tree stumps and ruts, while the riverbeds got rougher as the day went on, challenging both driving skill and vehicle durability. The team also introduced several new upgrades to the Castrol NWM Ford for this event, all of which showed strong potential and now provide a robust platform for 2026’s development.
Despite these conditions, Woolridge/Dreyer ended Friday with a valuable one minute and 42-second advantage over their title rivals, Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet. Wors Prinsloo and Andre Vermeulen had a high-speed impact with some bushes, damaging their windscreen and roof scoop, but returned to the overnight service in 9th position overall. With two vehicles back in the pits, there was a sudden flurry of activity when NWM’s pit crew needed to repair the wheel hub assembly on Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea’s NWM Ford out on the stage under the Clerk of the Course’s permission. This once again highlighted how quickly the team could react, load the correct spare parts and work in compromised conditions. Their effort paid off as Baumgart and Cincea crossed the finish line, thus being able to head into the next day’s racing stages. On Friday evening, the crews worked on the cars until 10pm to ensure every detail was perfect.
Saturday’s rally-raid brought a sudden shift in fortunes for the leading Ford team. After successfully overtaking the Toyota and setting the pace, their charge was disrupted by an unfortunate collision with a Kudu. While the Kudu was confirmed to be unharmed and safely departed the area, the impact severely damaged the Ford’s windscreen. This necessitated an unscheduled stop to remove the windscreen, which, combined with the subsequent reduction in engine cooling due to altered airflow, cost the team crucial minutes. Even so, they fought to the finish and claimed sixth overall in a display of sheer grit when everything seemed to be going against them.
“In some ways it’s a bittersweet weekend,” says Gareth Woolrdige. “We could see that we had the pace and the upgrades on the car worked well and I genuinely believe we had the speed to win today but that’s motorsport and specifically Rally-Raid in South Africa. We are racing in the wild, which can be dangerous but we are lucky that we weren’t hurt and that the Kudu was also confirmed uninjured. The team did well, even after the incident we tried to carry on but after going through a bit of mud it was impossible to see. We lost a lot of time taking the windscreen out; I was kicking it and Boyd was pulling – cutting his hand in the process. After that it really compromised the cooling, which also cuts engine power but even so I was surprised that we still had great pace and were still catching some of the guys. In the end it has been a good year with two wins and two second places. I am extremely lucky to do this with such a professional team and great bunch of guys – they share the same passion that we do and nothing is too much for them.”
For NWM Ford, Wors Prinsloo and André Vermeulen delivered an admirable recovery after their own windscreen damage on Friday, to finish in seventh place overall. Baumgart and Cincea showed fantastic pace on Saturday morning, setting the second fastest time on Stage 2. However, with their 5-hour penalty from the outside assistance on Friday’s stage they ended the event 17th overall.
“This wasn’t quite what we had in mind, which ultimately came down to that one very unlucky incident, and even worse that it happened so early in the race,” says Team Principal Neil Woolridge. “It’s like when you have a puncture, you wonder if you should carry on a bit further but sometimes it’s better to stop earlier. Either way, I don’t think it would have changed the result, unfortunately. With that now in the past it makes me very proud of what we’ve achieved. We are building cars against the best in the world and it just motivates us to work harder for the year ahead. We have updates on the car which seem to be working well and I am so grateful to all our existing sponsors who will be racing with us next year.”
Although the title slipped away, the Castrol NWM Ford Rally-Raid Team ends the 2025 season with immense pride. The NWM Ford demonstrated exceptional reliability, race-winning speed and impressive durability across the year. The team’s rapid pit-area response, combined with relentless development at their Pietermaritzburg headquarters, ensured the Castrol NWM Ford remained competitive against larger factory outfits throughout every round.
Despite the disappointment of the finale, there are numerous positives to carry into the future, and the team’s progress this year has laid a powerful foundation for what comes next. Supporters can also look forward to exciting announcements in 2026, as NWM Ford continues to push forward with new developments and ambitions.
