Home drivers join Cape Town RX grid

In the middle of all the regular superstars that will feature in the Cape Town event of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, some home talent will try their ways in the newest World RX venue for a good appearance.

Two drivers at the moment will represent South Africa in the Cape Town RX, being them Mark Cronje and Ashley Haigh-Smith, both coming to rallycross with local rally background as their main highlights.

Cronje will tackle the event in a Peugeot 208 WRX from Albatec Racing as a total rookie in supercars but a little less than this in rallycross as he already the Olsbergs Supercar Lites car earlier this year at Cape Town, although the experience in rallying that secured three national championships may be a good aid. He will make some tests in the new machine and will compete in the FFSA Rallycross before going to World RX, and being in front of his supporters he expects to reach the semifinals while also stay out of trouble at the end of the qualifying heats.

Haigh-Smith will enter the Cape Town RX with Olsbergs MSE and brings with him good experience in the Junior World Rally Championship and at national level too, although he will also need to overcome the lack of experience in rallycross too. He preferred to not raise expectations and said that he will rely on every advice he will receive from the Olsbergs MSE staff. Tests with the supercar will come in a few weeks to at least get a taste of what he will face.

The Cape Town RX will be the 2017 World RX season finale, to be held at Killarney International Raceway on November 12^th.

PHOTOS: Eric Buijs/Mark Cronje, Ashley Haigh-Smith