GWM South Africa is proud to be an official sponsor of the historic Berg River Marathon this year. The iconic four-day race takes place for the 52nd time in 2013 and runs over a distance of 240 km from Paarl to Velddrif in the Western Cape. It starts on Wednesday, July 10th, and annually turns into a travelling festival all along the mighty Berg River.
Berg Marathon Race Director André Collings: “GWM’s brand of vehicle is certainly a match for our four-day ultra-marathon, the world’s ultimate test in long distance river racing. The Western Cape Canoe Union sincerely thanks GWM for their vehicle sponsorship of the 52nd Berg River Marathon this year.”
This year additional interest is provided by a number of international participants, including British former Marathon World Champion, Ben Brown.
GWM South Africa in partnership with Omnicar Holdings (owners of GWM Paarl and GWM Vredenburg) have made available four Steed 5s and a C10 compact hatch for use by the organisers and media, as well as a Dakar-branded H5 2,0 VGT turbodiesel as a courtesy car for Ben Brown, who is hotly tipped for a strong race performance. The only Brit ever to stand on a Berg podium was John Fowler who achieved a second position in 1979.
“GWM Paarl and GWM Vredenburg are proud to support local schools and local sport events,” said Mark Evert, Group General Manager of Omnicar. “The Berg River Marathon not only showcases some of the leading canoeists from South Africa and abroad, but also the beautiful scenery along the banks of the Berg River between Paarl and Velddrif. We are confident that GWM Vredenburg and GWM Paarl in conjunction with GWM SA can serve our communities during this prestigious event going forward.”
“The Berg represents an ideal platform for us to promote the H5,” said GWM Brand Manager, Hannes Oosthuizen. “With its spacious cabin, rugged turbodiesel drivetrain and all-road ability, it is the perfect vehicle for outdoor enthusiasts with very active lifestyles, such as rowing, cycling etc. Plus, the Berg has such a passionate following and with good reason too, it’s a spectacular event.”
Ben Brown enthuses: “The H5 has been a great car for tripping around the Berg. Even with four kayaks on the roof, five people and lots of kit inside, the farm roads and fields around the Western Cape are a playground for this vehicle, without compromising comfort and fuel economy. I want one!”
