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Mark Cronjé kept Sasol Rally spectators in suspense until the final forest stage when he blitzed his only rival for victory by 6.2 seconds to win the event by just 3.1 seconds! |
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Photography credit: www.quickpic.co.za |
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Mark Cronjé put in the drive of his career to turn an overnight deficit of 32.5 seconds into a stunning 39.3-second victory in the opening round of the 2012 SA Rally Championship. |
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Photography credit: www.quickpic.co.za |
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As the countdown to the opening round of the 2012 SA National Rally Championship nears zero... |
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Photography credit: www.quickpic.co.za |
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Mark Cronjé and Robin Houghton emerged from the Toyota Cape Dealer Rally in a disappointed ninth place after surviving two drama-filled days that took their toll. |
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Photography credit: www.quickpic.co.za |
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Mark Cronjé delivered a sensational performance to claim his third victory in a row and take the lead of the South African Rally Championship after dominating... |
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Photography credit: www.quickpic.co.za |
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Mark Cronjé and Robin Houghton dominated the Volkswagen Rally, taking a dominant 36,1 second win after leading from start to finish. |
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Photography credit: www.quickpic.co.za |
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Mark Cronjé and Robin Houghton powered their Team Sasol Ford Fiesta to a dominant win on the Toyota Dealer Gauteng Rally - Team Sasol's maiden win! |
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Photography credit: www.quickpic.co.za |
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Team Sasol's pair of young chargers is confident of a top drawer result going into the HMC National Rally, round 3 of the SA Rally Championship. |
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Photography credit: www.quickpic.co.za |
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Team Sasol had an eventful 20th Sasol Rally with Mark Cronjé and Robin Houghton ending fifth overall in their S2000 Ford Fiesta S2000. |
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Photography credit: www.quickpic.co.za |
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After the day’s five special stages, four short gravel stages followed by a night-time tarmac stage in the Arbour Crossing parking area, it was privateers Mark Cronje and Robin Houghton who led in a class S2000 Sasol Ford Fiesta according to the provisional results. |
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Photography credit: motorpics.co.za |
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Mark Cronje and co-driver Robin Houghton and Jon Williams and Cobus Vrey have been selected to fly Sasol’s flag in the 2011 South African Rally Championship in the S2000 Ford Fiestas M-Sport-built rally machines. |
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With over 18 years in motorsport, take a look here at Mark Cronje's racing and rallying history.... |
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Photography credit: quickpic.co.za |
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Behind every successful rally driver and co-driver is a dedicated team of professionals... |
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Photography credit: motorpics.co.za |
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View Action media in Marks Gallery from this and previous seasons.... |
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Photography credit: motorpics.co.za |
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Team Sasol driver Mark Cronje is competing in this year's Sasol South African Rally Championship,
Sasol launched its high-octane rally programme by driving two S2000 Ford Fiestas out of the back of a cargo plane. Tucked into the cockpit of one of the M-Sport-built rally machines was Mark Cronje and co-driver Robin Houghton and Jon Williams and Cobus Vrey in the other. These are the men selected to fly Sasol’s flag in the 2011 South African Rally Championship.
Mark and Robin had a chance to conduct a pre-season test on the recent regional Belfast Rally where they quickly got to grips with their Ford Fiesta - and each other, winning six of the eight stages.
Mark has an impressive motorsport CV, boasting no less than five championships, including the world championship Rotax karting title. Robin is equally well qualified with a raft of off-road titles to his name. Jon has a class D production racing title to his credit but his greatest achievement was representing Africa in the Pirelli Star Driver in half a dozen rounds of the World Rally Championship. Cobus has competed for 19 years, claiming innumerable regional and class titles along the way.
"We settled in and learnt a lot on the regional rally. The car is staggeringly competent. There were a few niggles along the way but nothing serious. Our second test will be in Natal", Mark said. "It’s a privilege to drive the Fiesta. It has got such a ‘wow’ factor over anything I’ve experienced in the past. The handling is very forgiving which inspires confidence to attack corners and that should stand us in good stead for the slippery roads on the South Coast".
Mark continued: "For our first event I will be chuffed with a podium which is a high goal to set but in reality we will use the event to get au fait with the car and the team. This is a serious campaign in the midst of what is shaping up to be the most competitive season ever in SA rallying".
The last time Sasol backed me I was 13-years old and I received a race suit and some fuel. The wheel has finally turned full circle", he grinned. "This is the realization of a dream with the best car money can buy".
For Robin Houghton, a highly experienced co-driver, this is his first season outside of a factory environment in over a decade. "We started mountain biking together to get to know each other better. I will be a lot busier in the cockpit because the Fiesta is designed so that the driver only worries about steering, the pedals and changing gears. I operate all the other systems from a control box between the seats. I guess I’ll have to read the manual!"
"It’s going to be a great season with 12 drivers capable of winning, representing four brands. So many factors will affect the outcome of rallies this year, like road position, for example. The KwaZulu Natal roads are fantastic because they’re fast and flowing. We aim to have fun, look after Sasol’s investment and faith in us and see where we fit into the scheme of things", he added.Dean Somerset, Sasol Head of Motorsport Sponsorships said: "Sasol is proud to continue in rallying’s premier class with Ford’s hi-tech rally cars, which carries a direct synergy with Sasol’s fuel and lubricants".
"The Ford Fiesta rally programme is about re-introducing Sasol’s winning ways and we believe our drivers will achieve that. The cars will be powered by Sasol Turbo Fuels plus with Sasol techno oil pumping through the engine".
For more information on Team Sasol, log on to www.sasolracing.co.za
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1 |
CRONJE Mark |
50 |
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2 |
GEMMELL Johnny |
42 |
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3 |
HABIG Jan |
34 |
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4 |
WEIJS Hans |
34 |
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5 |
WILLIAMS Jon |
28 |
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6 |
DAMSEAUX Jean Pierre |
27 |
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7 |
WILKEN Charl |
27 |
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8 |
ZULU Gugu |
24 |
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9 |
MOOSA Mohammed |
20 |
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10 |
KUUN Enzo |
16 |
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11 |
FEKKEN Hergen |
14 |
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12 |
LATEGAN Henk |
12 |
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13 |
DIPPENAAR Wilro |
11 |
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14 |
VAN NIEKERK Japie |
11 |
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15 |
KLAASSEN Sebastiaan |
10 |
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16 |
POULTER Leeroy |
10 |
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17 |
KOEKEMOER Werner |
9 |
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18 |
TROTT Craig |
8 |
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19 |
VACY-LYLE Matthew |
7 |
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20 |
VERLAQUE Megan |
7 |
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21 |
LLOYD Murray |
6 |
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22 |
STASSEN Jozua |
6 |
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23 |
LATEGAN Heinrich |
5 |
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24 |
VAN DER WESTHUIZEN Nic |
5 |
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25 |
JANSE VAN RENSBURG Morne |
4 |
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26 |
SNYDERS Christoff |
2 |
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27 |
WESTON Clint |
1 |
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28 |
ATWELL Chase |
0 |
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29 |
BERNDT Gary |
0 |
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30 |
BOTTERILL Guy |
0 |
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31 |
BURGER Schalk |
0 |
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32 |
COETZEE Dolf |
0 |
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33 |
CONRADIE Tjaart |
0 |
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34 |
DE VILLIERS Giniel |
0 |
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35 |
DE WIT Chris |
0 |
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36 |
DU PLESSIS Visser |
0 |
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37 |
FRANKEN Paul |
0 |
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38 |
HAIGH SMITH Ashley |
0 |
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39 |
HIMMEL Hans |
0 |
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40 |
HIMMEL Roland |
0 |
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41 |
HUGO Stephanie |
0 |
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42 |
RAUTENBACH Conrad |
0 |
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43 |
REYNEKE Rocky |
0 |
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44 |
RYAN Nicholas |
0 |
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45 |
YOUNG Ian |
0 |
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