PARYS, South Africa, 18 August 2024 – The world of motorsport is as unforgiving as it is exhilarating, and the Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM) Ford Rally-Raid Team experienced every facet of this truth during a thrilling weekend of back-to-back racing in the South African Rally-Raid Championship. With rounds 4 and 5 unfolding in the scenic yet treacherous terrain of Parys, Free State, the NWM Ford team showcased a remarkable blend of determination, skill, and resilience.
Friday’s INGCO Parys 400: A Day of Frustration
The INGCO Parys 400, which kicked off on Friday, 16 August 2024, promised a fierce competition right from the start. Reigning Overall Production Vehicle champions Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer (#200) began the race with a promising second-place position after a brief yet intense 1.5km qualifying loop. However, motorsport’s unpredictable nature soon reared its head.
Despite their early momentum, Woolridge and Dreyer’s progress was stymied by the dust of a slower competitor, a delay that would set the tone for their day. Just as they managed to overtake, a puncture cruelly returned them to the dust trail of their rival. Their frustrations culminated in a sixth-place finish—an outcome far from reflective of their potential.
Meanwhile, team-mates Lance Woolridge and Kenny Gilbert (#234) faced their own trials. A suspension joint failure led to a dramatic roll early in the race. Though the damage was minimal, the incident forced them to retire from the day’s competition. The NWM crew, undeterred, worked tirelessly through the night in freezing conditions to ready the car for the next day’s challenge.
Saturday’s INGCO Vaal 400: A Battle of Comebacks
The dawn of Saturday’s INGCO Vaal 400 brought with it a renewed sense of purpose for the NWM Ford Rally-Raid Team. With a completely new route to navigate, Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer took to the course with a vengeance. Their EcoBoost V6-powered Ford Ranger was on the pace from the outset, leading the pack and building a commanding 50-second lead over the pursuing Toyota duo of Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings by the time they reached the mandatory 30-minute service stop.
However, the cruel hand of fate intervened once again. Just 60km from the finish, a rock hidden beneath a flat-out crest punctured a tyre, erasing their hard-earned lead. Though they executed a swift wheel change, the lost time was enough to relegate them to fourth place, a mere 01:33 behind the eventual winners Lategan and Cummings.
“It’s been the story of our season,” reflected Gareth Woolridge. “We’ve had the pace, but the small things have cost us dearly. Today, the car felt perfect, and we were pushing hard. The puncture was just bad luck, but in a race as fast as this, there’s no margin for error.”
Lance Woolridge and Kenny Gilbert, eager to make amends for their previous day’s retirement, delivered an inspired performance. After a blistering first loop, they found themselves in third place, just 22 seconds off the lead. As the race wore on, they pushed their Ford Ranger to the limit, at one point poised to secure the runner-up position. In the end, they finished third, heartbreakingly close—just one second—behind the Toyota crew of Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy.
“It was a challenging weekend, but to end it on the podium is a testament to the team’s hard work and the car’s performance,” said Lance Woolridge. “After Friday’s setback, we were determined to fight back, and we did just that.”
Looking Ahead: The Road to Welkom
The NWM Ford Rally-Raid Team’s weekend was a microcosm of the sport itself—filled with triumphs, setbacks, and relentless pursuit of excellence. NWM Ford team principal Neil Woolridge summed up the experience: “Things didn’t go our way on Friday, and losing out on Saturday’s win by such a narrow margin is tough to swallow. But the team showed incredible resilience, and our cars proved they can compete with the best.”
As the team now looks ahead to the next round in Welkom on 13 and 14 September 2024, they carry with them the lessons learned and the fierce determination that has become their hallmark. In motorsport, as in life, the ability to rise after every fall defines true champions—and the NWM Ford Rally-Raid Team has proven they have what it takes.
