Motorsport to stage Africa's biggest rally
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday September 20, 2019 10:51
The race would cover a distance of between 5,000km to 7,000km over a minimum of seven days.
Morolong 2020 would be the biggest cross-country rally in the continent, surpassing the Afriquia Merzouga Rally that runs for close to 3,000km in Morocco and the 1,000km Toyota Desert Race that takes place every year in Botswana.
Speaking to Mmegi Sport, BMS president Kagiso Modibedi said they have seen a potential in the country as a hub of motorsport, hence the initiative to stage a world-class event.
“This country has one of the best terrains in the world. So it was natural that we come up with an event that will compete with some of the world-class events like the Dakar Rally.”
“We have a five-year plan, it’s our wish that in those years the event would be in the top five of the cross-country rallies in the world. This will help promote motorsport in the country,” he said.
Modibedi said for an event of that magnitude, the BMS needs a budget of a minimum of P3.5 million.
“The budget is between P3.5 million and P5 million to host the race. I must admit that we are still at an infant stage. We should have signed one or two sponsorship deals by now, but there is nothing yet.
However, we are positive that the private sector will come on board. There has been a very positive response from the companies that we have approached thus far,” he said.
BMS will this weekend launch Morolong 2020 in Goodhope as the first part towards preparing for the event.
“We are in Goodhope to launch the event, but we will miss our elite riders including Ross Branch and Robert Pollock due to their busy schedules. So they will sit this one out.
This is to sensitise the people in Borolong about such a huge event coming to their area next year and we are hoping for a positive response,” he said, adding that they will act based on the support they will receive in the country.