The Sasol Rally, taking place from 18 - 20 April in Mpumalanga, promises to be an exhilarating weekend for motoring enthusiasts. It is the second rally of the South African Rally Championship and has become one of the most popular events on the rally calendar.

Sasol has been involved in motorsport since 1962 and is regarded as one of the pioneers in the development of racing fuel. This season, the Volkswagen Sasolracing team field four cars - three Volkswagen Polos in the S2000 category and a Volkswagen Polo Vivo in the S2000 Challenge, each powered by Sasol turbofuels™ plus and Sasol techno oil™. The team consists of 18-year old Henk Lategan and his navigator Barry White, Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin, Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson as well as Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries.

The Sasol Rally consists of 15 stages, made up of four tar and 11 gravel, spread across Sabie, White River and Nelspruit areas. Most stages are designed to provide superior spectator points, allowing the public to view the rally from safe proximity.

“The Sasol Rally is a great family event that offers excitement for all ages. It is open to the public and I urge families, fans and the community to come and support their teams in action. The event is supported by the provincial government, local municipality and businesses, enabling us to host an event of this magnitude. This year, we are rooting for another home victory,” said Alan Cameron, Managing Director, Sasol Oil.

Cameron added, “Sasol is the only fuel and oil company in South Africa with the technical expertise to undertake world-class research and development. This allows us to incorporate our motorsport partners into our research and development programmes on fuels and lubricants.”

Sasol will also invest R600 000 in three social and education initiatives. Together with York Timbers, Sasol will be constructing stalls for street vendors at Sabie Square, who will further be equipped with essential business development skills. In addition, two local schools, Memezile High School and Grasskop Primary School will receive equipment and financial assistance with refurbishments.

“Mpumalanga has been the destination for the Sasol Rally for the past 22 years and we have a close relationship with the province. We have selected these three initiatives as they are on-route to the Sasol Rally and fall within our CSR focus areas of education and community development,” said Cameron.

The Sasol rally kicks off with scrutineering and safety checks on 18 April, from 16:00 at the Sabie Square - before the engines start revving for the rally. The rally starts at Sabie Square on Friday, 19 April, at 10:00 and will finish at the Nelspruit Show Grounds on 20 April, at 16:00.

Ends

Issued by:

Alex Anderson, Group Media Manager
Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3295; Mobile +27 (0) 71 600 9605;
alex.anderson@sasol.com

Jacqui O’Sullivan, GM: Group Communication
Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3252; Mobile +27 (0) 82 883 9697;
jacqui.osullivan@sasol.com