PRETORIA, South Africa, 24 June 2025 – The 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) promises to ignite fierce competition and exhilarating motorsport action, with the Castrol Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) Team ready to assert its dominance. Following the postponement of the opening round in Vryheid due to flooding, the championship will now kick off near Bronkhorstspruit on 27 and 28 June, with the Castrol NWM Ford squad poised to lead the charge.
This season heralds the return of Castrol as the title sponsor of NWM, rekindling a partnership that blends a legendary lubricants brand with a powerhouse in South African rally-raid competition. Ford South Africa, celebrating nearly three decades of sustained support, remains a cornerstone sponsor, reinforcing the rugged and adventurous spirit embodied by the Ford Ranger. Adding to the team’s strength is the arrival of bp Ultimate as a new sponsor, bringing advanced fuel technology to the championship effort. The team’s robust sponsorship network is further supported by Vedacit, Ford Credit, Mastercraft Tools, Sparco, and Veldskoen, while technical partners Brembo, NTN, and Tiger Wheel & Tyre provide essential performance components.
At the heart of the Castrol NWM Ford Team is the meticulously crafted NWM Evo Plus Ultimate — a rally-raid machine designed and built in Pietermaritzburg by Neil Woolridge Motorsport. With nearly 30 years of expertise spanning local and international competition, the team’s engineering prowess is evident in the Evo Plus Ultimate. The vehicle’s powertrain features Ford’s proven EcoBoost 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering the performance and durability demanded by the grueling rally-raid terrain.
Neil Woolridge, NWM team principal, reflects on the evolution of the Ranger Ultimate: “The 2024 season was a crucial learning year with the introduction of the new Ranger Ultimate. We’ve taken those lessons to heart, dedicating the off-season to refining and strengthening the vehicles to make them more robust and competitive than ever.”
A Formidable Driver Lineup
The 2025 season sees NWM fielding a formidable three-car team, combining seasoned local talent with international rally-raid veterans. Leading the charge are reigning 2023 SARRC champions Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer. Their successful partnership, forged since 2014, culminated in a championship-winning season boasting three victories and six podiums from seven rounds. They remain the benchmark in the premier FIA Ultimate/T1+ class and will be key contenders again this year.
Joining them is a powerful international pairing: Brazilian rally-raid champions Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea. With five and three Brazilian Cross Country Championship titles respectively, along with a 2019 South American championship under their belts, Baumgart and Cincea bring a wealth of experience to the series. Baumgart expresses his excitement, “The level of competition here is very high, and we are sure it will be an incredible year. We love racing in Africa and it is a privilege to be part of the Neil Woolridge Motorsport team once again.”
Completing the team is the more affordable South African Ultimate/T1+ class entry of Wors Prinsloo and Andre Vermeulen. Having impressed as a privateer outfit supported by NWM in 2023, where they finished a strong 10th overall in the top category, they now officially join the Castrol NWM Ford family with their NWM Evo Plus.
Partnerships That Drive Success
Ford South Africa’s marketing head, Tarryn Knight, highlights the importance of motorsport to the brand: “We are delighted to continue our association with NWM and welcome Castrol as title sponsor, alongside bp Ultimate and our other valued partners. Motorsport remains a key pillar for the Ford Ranger brand, showcasing its unmatched capability, quality, and reliability.”
Neil Woolridge echoes this confidence in the team’s outlook for 2025: “We’re ready to fight for race wins and the championship again. Our crews and sponsors understand the importance of a strong start, and our recent success at the Sun City W2RC event proves we have the belief and preparation to meet the challenges ahead.”
As the SARRC season roars into life, the Castrol NWM Ford Team stands united behind a shared ambition: to push the limits of performance and endurance across South Africa’s toughest rally-raid terrain, once again proving why they are the team to watch. The road to glory begins now.
