Team South Africa has successfully defended its International Spirit of Amarok Trophy. The 2016 competition recently took place north of Upington in the unrelenting dunes and pans of the Kalahari Desert. Fourteen teams from Australia, Botswana, Namibia, Russia and South Africa participated in this year's competition with each country except Russia being represented by three teams, each team comprising of two people. The participants contested 30 stages (18 speed and 12 technical challenges) … [Read more...] about Team South Africa Wins
sarel van der merwe
2015 Spirit of Africa Trophy Winners
Alwyn Jordaan and Melanie Barnard are the 2015 Spirit of Africa Trophy champions. The pair, who finished in the third position last year, successfully mastered five days of demanding 4x4 driving challenges at the Kwalata Game Reserve in Botswana. Alwyn and Melanie took home R50 000 prize money for their achievement. The top 20 teams that participated in the 2015 finals emerged from nearly 500 teams that competed in the elimination rounds that were held in Zeerust between April and June this … [Read more...] about 2015 Spirit of Africa Trophy Winners
SuperVan Sarel van der Merwe
My one abiding memory of Sarel van der Merwe is of him being interviewed on television and the presenter asking him why he never smiled, to which he replied behind steely eyes and in his gruff voice; "I am smiling!" I swear I heard spaghetti western music and the clink of his stirrups! This Port Elizabeth born rally driver, was a multiple South African Rally Drivers Champion who held numerous Championship titles including the South African Rally Drivers Championship (1975 and 1977-1985), the … [Read more...] about SuperVan Sarel van der Merwe
The Spirit of Africa
The Spirit of Africa Competition - specially created by legendary rally driver Sarel van der Merwe – is an off-road competition for drivers who want to test their skills against the toughest African conditions and other serious 4x4 teams. In 2010, the Volkswagen Amarok was chosen as the official vehicle for the competition. A record 450 teams participated in the elimination rounds in Upington and the finals took place outside Swakopmund in Namibia Sarel van der Merwe said, “We decided to … [Read more...] about The Spirit of Africa
I am Smiling
When renowned racing driver Sarel van der Merwe took delivery of his new, go-anywhere Volkswagen Amarok this week, he drove it straight to Hi-Q Walmer Park, Port Elizabeth, to change its tyres to Goodyear Wranglers. The founder and host of the exciting Spirit of Africa events, Van der Merwe insisted that, for his off-road adventures especially, his trust lies solely in Goodyear Wrangler products. He requested a full set of Wrangler AT/SA 265/65R17 tyres to replace those originally fitted to … [Read more...] about I am Smiling
