#Dakar2020 – Red-Lined Nissans tame toughest Saudi desert

Red-Lined Motoring Adventures’ two Nissan Navaras enjoyed another great day at Dakar 2020 Saudi Arabia with both cars enjoying quick, clean and trouble free races into the final bivouac at Haradah Thursday evening. Pretoria pair Hennie de Klerk and Johann Smalberger ran well within the top 30 from the start to power the TreasuryOne Navara home a fine 25th on the day, with Dubai-based Britons Thomas Bell and Patrick McMurren chasing them all the way to bring their Sabertooth version home 31st.

“At one point we were looking good to make it three best-ever Dakar days in a row today,” Thomas Bell pointed out. “But there were a few faster pro drivers who had fallen back and they pipped us at the post — still we will happily take another second best result! “In all it was a good day — we had to fight for road position a little early on, but soon found some space and we settled into our rhythm, the navigation was spot on, the car was good and the driving not so bad! “We have 375km left to race to make it a remarkable year with our Sabertooth Navara since day 1 of our first Dakar in 2019…”

“Dakar has tested us in every way it could this year,” Hennie de Klerk admitted. “All we asked for after that tough first week was a few clean days and at last, it seems our wishes have been granted! “We had a great day — our TreasuryOne Navara was splendid in the sand, Johann’s notes were great and we had nothing ill to report — very happy with 25th today and to now be up to 27th overall. “Now we need to make it three clean days in a row as we race to the finish of Dakar 2020 in Qiddia tomorrow. “It’s just so nerve wracking too!”

“The whole team is incredibly proud of our two businessman driver Red-Lined Nissan Navara crews,” team boss Terence Marsh concluded. “To be running in and around the top thirty among the best seeded professional cross country racers in the world after eleven days of racing the Dakar is an incredible achievement — not least of all considering how both cars sailed through today’s toughest dune test for the year.

“Now we are so close to the finish that we can almost touch it, but this is the Dakar and it is not over until it is over, so bring it home guys, and then we can party and celebrate in Quiddia tomorrow…”