Blignaut brothers take first win at a dramatic Ingco Parys 400 as the rising stars challenge rally legends in a 2025 SARRC showdown.
Parys, South Africa (18 August 2025) – Round 2 of the 2025 SA Rally-Raid Championship, the Ingco Parys 400, delivered a thrilling day of racing just outside Parys in the Free State. A fast but technical route was packed with dust, tricky navigation, and a few unexpected hurdles saw new winners. These winners are non-other than the Blignaut brothers. It is always amazing to see siblings work together towards a shared vision. Fouché and Bertus Blignaut claimed their maiden overall and Ultimate FIA T1+ class victory in the #TeamHilux Rally-Raid Toyota DKR Hilux T1+.
The duo set the pace early by topping the Falken Wildpeak Qualifying Race and started sixth on the road after a draw determined the top 10 grid positions. With a clean and composed drive through the 320 km route, the Blignauts clocked a total time of 04:44:47, securing a breakthrough win in only their second outing of the season.
Behind them, however, the lead battle was anything but straightforward. Guy Botterill and Oriol Valdearcos from Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux IMT EVO, who led early on, were stopped in their tracks by locked farm gates. Not once, but twice which allowed Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer to temporarily take the lead on the road. Unfortunately, mechanical issues sidelined the Ford crew early in Stage Two, ending their hopes of back-to-back victories.
Botterill and Valdearcos, initially credited with the win after time compensation, were later handed a two-minute penalty for a rule infringement. This saw them drop to second overall, 1 minute and 38 seconds behind the Blignaut brothers.
Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy (Team Hilux) rounded out the podium despite also receiving a post-race penalty, while Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet (Toyota Gazoo Racing) finished fourth overall after battling both a puncture and the day’s tough navigation.
Johan and Werner Horn (TeamHilux Rally-Raid Toyota Hilux) delivered another impressive performance to claim their second Ultimate T1+ SA class win of the season, finishing fifth overall with a penalty-free run. They finished just ahead of seasoned competitor Gary Bertholdt and Henry Köhne, who also received a time penalty but maintained sixth overall.
It is pretty clear that the Blignaut brothers were up against some fierce competition but still maintained composure.
Sources: Supplied
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