Rain steals the spotlight in dramatic Amatola Rally finale

The Algoa Rally Club’s season wrapped up in electrifying style in the misty forests of Hogsback this weekend, where back-to-back championship rounds delivered two days of flat-out action, heartbreak, and surprise victories.

Friday: Big pace, big drama

Twenty cars lined up for Friday’s Round 6 showdown, and with the roads in perfect condition, spectators were treated to a masterclass in speed—huge jumps, razor-sharp corners, and the kind of commitment only rally drivers understand.

Brothers Nico and Juandre Nienaber came out swinging in their turbo-charged Hyundai Accent, dominating the first four stages with blistering pace. But rallying is unforgiving: a costly navigation error in Stage 5 sent them off course and opened the door for Nick Davidson and Matt Kohler, who pounced to claim overall victory in their new VW Polo 270—Davidson’s second win in a row after his Steytlerville triumph.

Pictured: ***On the limit***: Nick Davidson and Matt Kohler power through a corner on their way to winning round 6 of the Algoa Rally Championship.
Picture credit: Darryl Kukard

The Nienabers fought back to secure second, with Wade van Zummeren and Henry Adams rounding out the podium.

But Mother Nature had other plans. As darkness approached, so did the torrential rain, forcing the cancellation of the night stage and triggering a string of mechanical heartbreaks. Gearbox failures, blown engines, and suspension carnage saw several top contenders—including Juan van Rooyen, Ross Bartle, Jody van Zummeren, Neels Vosloo, and Oliver de Man—fall by the wayside.

The biggest blow came for Juandre Marais and his fiancée Tegan Taljaard, who were flying in fourth overall and leading their class before a tree stump ended their rally hopes on the final stage.

Saturday: Survival of the smartest

Only sixteen cars returned for Saturday’s round, greeted by thick mist and wet gravel—conditions that demanded precision over raw aggression.

The Nienabers once again stormed ahead, winning the opening two stages, but fate struck twice: another tree stump damaged their suspension, ending their charge and handing control of the rally to the ever-consistent Wade van Zummeren and Henry Adams. They seized the opportunity brilliantly, storming to victory.

**Pictured:** *Pushing to the max: Wade van Zummeren and Henry Adams attack a corner on their way to winning Round 7 of the Algoa Rally Championship.*
**Picture credit:** Darryl Kukard

Davidson and Kohler pushed hard but settled for second, 42.7 seconds adrift, while the crowd-pleasing duo of JP Smit and his fiancée Marisa Bernhardt powered their humble 1.6-litre Toyota Tazz to a remarkable third place.

And then—once again—the rain had the final word. The closing stage was scrapped for safety after the route became dangerously slick.

Championship Standings

Drivers’ Championship

Wade van Zummeren
Deon Kretzmann
Nico Nienaber

Navigators’ Championship

Juandre Nienaber
Henry Adams
Jason Schreiber

Class Championships – Drivers
ARC 1 – 1. Wade van Zummeren, 2. Nick Davidson, 3. Nico Nienaber
ARC 2 – 1. Martin van Zummeren
ARC 3 – 1. Johan Viljoen, 2. Justin Langhein, 3. Ross Bartle
ARC 4 – 1. Deon Kretzmann, 2. JP Smit, 3. Jeandre’ Marais
ARC 5 – 1. Francois Vermaak, 2. Leander Koekemoer, 3. Davian Koetaan

Clubman’s Challenge

Francois Vermaak, 2. Justin Langhein, 3. Martin Kleingeld

Class Championships – Navigators
ARC 1 – 1. Henry Adams, 2. Juandre Nienaber, 3. Ashley Bezuidenhout
ARC 2 – 1. Mark Irvine
ARC 3 – 1. Juane’ Viljoen, 2. Dane Langhein, 3. Ingrid Jeacocks
ARC 4 – 1. Jason Schreiber, 2. Lovedonia Phakula, 3. Rikus Fourie
ARC 5 – 1. Handre’ van Schalkwyk, 2. Jerome Gouws, 3. Nadia Rautenbach

Clubman’s Challenge