O'Hagan's Superteam 2003 preview

High hopes for O'Hagan's / Kopanong Hotel Superteam in 2003 SA Off-Road Championship.

The O'Hagan's / Kopanong Superteam will field five cars in this year's SA Off-Road Championship, starting with the Nissan Dealer 400 in the Darling area near Cape Town on Friday and Saturday (March 21 and 22).

John Weir-Smith and Geoff Minnitt will contest class A (unrestricted Special Vehicles) in their BMW-engined Jimco. The pair finished third in last year's championship after winning the Nissan Sugarbelt 400 in Kwazulu Natal and the Queen Motor Spares Tarka 400 in the Eastern Cape.

Father-and-son team Rob and Gareth Wark will share the drives in their single-seater Mighty Mag in class B (two-litre four-cylinder Special Vehicles).

Scott Abraham and Richard 'Ouboet' Carolin will share the familiar black Jeep Cherokee in class F (unrestricted two-wheel drive Production Vehicles), with both experiencing a debut, the 22-year old Abraham as a driver and the veteran Carolin as a navigator.

Andre Botha, managing director of Kopanong Hotel, and co-driver Beans Heydenrych make their off-road debut in class F in the ex-Walker Evans-built Chevvy truck that won the Parker 400 race in the United States a few years ago.

Rounding out the five-car Superteam is the Porsche-engined Raceco of Nic Gosler and Glen Steyn, which will contest class S (for older specification Special Vehicles). The pair won their class in the 2002 Carnival City Casino 400 in their debut year.

The team is aiming for championship wins in each of the four classes contested. Support comes from Goodyear, Castrol, Hausberger & Associates, Volvo Trucks, Red Heart, Tydek Auto, National Signs, Chicago Pneumatic and Atlas Copco.

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