Total Tara Rally 50th edition launched in Windhoek

WINDHOEK, 14 OCT  – The 50th edition of the Total Tara Rally was launched in Windhoek on Saturday with 40 cars expected to take part in the rally that will be contested over three days.
This year’s rally will cover over 558 kilometres starting on 08 November in Swakopmund and ending on 10 November in Windhoek.
Speaking during the launch, Windhoek Motor Club (WMC) chairperson, Richard Slamet, who is also organising committee chairperson for the Tara Rally, said organising the rally has a lot of hurdles but he is happy all is in place come the race date.
“The Total Tara Rally is older than the Dakar Rally which is now 39 years old. I am happy to see the Tara Rally celebrating its 50th anniversary because as a little boy, I watched this rally and had an opportunity to sit on the hood of my father’s car and little did I know that I will also race in this event while at the same time organise its 50th anniversary,” he said.
Slamet added that 40 vehicles have been registered to compete in this year’s event which will bring more competition and excitement to the rally.
“It’s really nice to have more cars taking part in the rally and what would be nice is seeing all of those cars completing the competition and not be stuck somewhere because they are broken as we all know the rally is harsh on cars,” Slamet said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Pieter Greeff from the Walvis Bay Motor Club said this year will be special for the Tara Rally because they are going back to three days racing as well as night racing which did not happen for a while.
The 50th edition of the Tara Rally will see Total Namibia who has been sponsors for 35 years of this event making a N.dollars 150 000 sponsorship.
Willem de Witt, Total Namibia Commercial Manager said they are happy to be sponsoring the event and they are looking forward to exciting racing which will be interesting and exciting to all spectators.
Below is a brief summary of routes of the three days Tara Rally:

Day 1: Thursday, 08 November – Rally starts in Swakopmund with four special stages, a portion of which will be night stages, totalling about 47km excluding liaison distances.
Day 2: Friday, 09 November – Starts at Swakopmund at 07h00 in the morning, goes through Karibib to Wilhelmstal on to Windhoek with stages starting at 18h30 in the evening. There will be 12 morning and afternoon special stages between Swakopmund and Wilhelmstal with two super special stages in Windhoek at the Tony Rust Racetrack.
There are 12 brand new special stages totalling about 120km. Two super special stages at Tony Rust Racetrack will total about 12km, thus, day two stages in total will be 132km excluding liaison distances.
Day 3: Saturday, 10 November – In and around Windhoek, five special stages totalling about 31km excluding liaison distances.
The rally in total will comprise of special stages of 198km, super special stages of 12km and liaison sections of 347km.
(NAMPA)