Television personality and international model Marius Roberts will have a second bite at the cherry when the popular Imperial Auto Celebrity Challenge enters its fourth season at the RFS Endurance, round one of this year’s Donaldson Cross Country Championship, in Harrismith on March 27 and 28.
The Celebrity Challenge gives celebrities from the sports and entertainment worlds the opportunity to experience at first hand the drama and excitement of national cross country racing. At the same time the challenge has played an increasingly important role in marketing the Donaldson series.
The Celebrity Challenge was first run midway during the 2012 season with cricket legend ‘Vinnige’ Fanie de Villiers joining former South African champion Archie Rutherford in the Imperial Auto Nissan Navara. Since then a string of celebrities that include Springbok rugby stars John Smit, Stefan Terblanche and AJ Venter, cricket legend Jonty Rhodes, comedians Barry Hilton and Michael Naicker, entertainer Heinz Winckler, TV personality Jeannie D and actress and AIDS ambassador Hlubi Mboya, have helped market cross country racing in South Africa to a wider audience.
According to Terence Marsh, marketing executive for SANORA, the Celebrity Challenge has over the last three years developed into the single most valuable property within the Donaldson Cross Country Championship. The challenge will continue to develop this season, with an exciting array of celebrities in the pipeline for the remainder of the season.
Marsh, a former South African champion, last season took over driving duties in the Imperial Auto Celebrity Challenge from Archie Rutherford. Marsh is also team principal of the Regent Racing squad, under whose banner the Imperial Nissan Navaras compete in Class T and S in the Production Vehicle category in the Donaldson championship.
Related
Roberts, a self-confessed ‘petrol head’ sat alongside Marsh on the RFS 450 at the start of last season. The pair, however, failed to see out the distance.
“Marius was bitterly disappointed we did not finish last year’s event, and jumped at the chance to have another shot at earning a coveted finishers medal,” said Marsh. “He did very well in the car and this time around will be in familiar surroundings.
“Hopefully the end result will be a bit more rewarding this time out.”
The RFS Endurance will be based at the La La Nathi resort on the outskirts of Harrismith with the Free State town hosting the opening round of the Donaldson Cross Country Championship for the second year running. The event will be run over a maximum distance of 700 kilometres, with a 200 kilometre qualifying race to determine grid positions.
Race headquarters, the start/finish and the designated service park will all be located at the La La Nathi resort with free public entry on both days. The qualifying race will start at 10:30 on Friday, March 27 and the race at 07:30 on Saturday, March 28.
