The Group N Racing Revival South Africa Will Never See
South Africa’s Group N racing vanished because the unique conditions that made it possible, like turning production cars into affordable racers, disappeared.
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Giniel de Villiers
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Crazy Dakar Rally Facts
The 2026 Dakar Rally will start later this week. This is the 48th edition of the endurance event, known as the toughest of its kind in the world. The very first event took place in 1979, starting in Paris the day after Christmas. Plenty has happened since then. We take a look at some of […]
2025 Dakar Stage 12 Results – A New Champ
2025 Dakar Stage 12 was the final stage of the 47th edition of this famous race. The last stage was a short, 61 km timed section in a loop around Shubaytah. Thanks to an excellent performance in stage 11, Saudi driver Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Racing) took the lead in the overall standings and was […]
2025 Dakar Stage 11 Results – Another Lead Change
2025 Dakar Stage 11 was the last chance for any competitors to make real inroads on their rivals’ leads. The penultimate stage of this year’s race was a 275 km timed section in a loop around Shubaytah. The start of the race was delayed somewhat due to poor visibility caused by heavy fog. As a […]
2025 Dakar Stage 10 Results – A New Winner
Long time race leader Henk Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing) lost the lead during stage nine of the 2025 Dakar Rally (as you can read here). Yazeed Al Rajhi usurped the South African at the top of the standings. However, it was former winner Nasser Al-Attiyah who won stage nine, in the process he clawed back […]
![2025 Dakar Stage 9 Results – A New Race Leader [w/videos]](https://doubleapex.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Nasser-Al-Attiyah-made-up-chunks-of-time-on-the-race-leaders-during-2025-Dakar-stage-9-1024x615.webp)
2025 Dakar Stage 9 Results – A New Race Leader [w/videos]
Henk Lategan’s (Toyota Gazoo Racing) has been in the lead of the 2025 Dakar Rally almost since the start. The SA driver has been keeping a good pace to manage his lead. However, he lost a chunk of time, through no fault of his own, earlier this week (as you can read here). Keen to […]
![Giniel de Villiers – Dakar Man [Gallery]](https://doubleapex.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Giniel-de-Villiers-Dakar-Man-1024x614.webp)
Giniel de Villiers – Dakar Man [Gallery]
Giniel de Villiers has completed nearly two dozen Dakar Rally events. The Capetonian started competing in 2003 with Nissan and moved on to the works Volkswagen Motorsport effort. In 2009, he claimed the German outfit’s first win. He was an integral part of the team and helped team-mates to two successive wins after his own. […]
2025 Dakar Stage 8 Results – Lategan Fires Back
The seventh stage of the 2025 Dakar saw Henk Lategan’s (Toyota Gazoo Racing) lead over Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Racing) absolutely melt away. An error on the organisers’ part meant that they cut out a section of the stage. As a result Lategan’s lead was sliced to a slim 21 seconds from over ten minutes. […]
![2025 Dakar Stage 7 Results – More Big Names Out [w/videos]](https://doubleapex.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Lucas-Moraes-was-unbeatable-on-2025-Dakar-stage-7-1024x614.webp)
2025 Dakar Stage 7 Results – More Big Names Out [w/videos]
The sixth stage of the 2025 Dakar saw no real change in the overall standings. Henk Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing) still leads from Yazeed Al -Rajhi (Overdrive Racing). However, there was a really bad news for SA fans as Giniel de Villiers (Toyota Gazoo Racing) who had to retire. The 2009 winner’s co-pilot Dirk von […]
![2025 Dakar Stage 6 Results – The Race Resumes [w/videos]](https://doubleapex.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Guillaume-de-Mevius-was-the-man-to-beat-on-2025-Dakar-Stage-6-1024x614.webp)
2025 Dakar Stage 6 Results – The Race Resumes [w/videos]
The fifth stage of the 2025 Dakar brought competitors to the traditional rest day after a week of racing. Henk Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing) led the race going into the second week. 2025 Dakar stage 6 was the first of several longer stages that characterise this week. The special stage, from Ha’il to Duwadimi was […]
How Much Does A Dakar Entry Cost in 2025?
The 2025 Dakar Rally is currently taking place in Saudi Arabia. The Dakar Rally is considered the most challenging race in all of motorsport. Competitors are faced with varied terrain, including sand dunes, mountains, and rugged off-road sections. Interestingly, complete rookies can compete in this event alongside professionals and seasoned campaigners. However, you can’t just […]
![2025 Dakar Stage 5 Results – Maximum Al-Attack-Iyah [w/videos]](https://doubleapex.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Nasser-Al-Attiyah-in-action-during-2025-Dakar-Stage-5-1024x614.webp)
2025 Dakar Stage 5 Results – Maximum Al-Attack-Iyah [w/videos]
The fourth stage of the 2025 Dakar was the first of a two-part ‘marathon. That stage was won by local driver Yazeed Al Rajhi (as you can read at this link). The second part of which was 2025 Dakar Stage 5. Marathon, in Dakar speak, means that teams were not allowed outside assistance at the […]
2025 Dakar Stage 4 Results – Loeb KO’d
2025 Dakar Stage 3 saw another leading player roll his race machine. You can read about and watch Sebastien Loeb’s accident at this link. The FIA deemed that the Frenchman’s Dacia Sandrider sustained too much damage to continue. As a result Loeb was forced to retire ahead of 2025 Dakar Stage 4. The nine-time WRC […]
![2025 Dakar Stage 3 Results – Big Names Falter [w/videos]](https://doubleapex.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Saood-Variawa-claimed-his-first-ever-stage-win-at-2025-Dakar-stage-3-1024x614.webp)
2025 Dakar Stage 3 Results – Big Names Falter [w/videos]
2025 Dakar Stage 2 was a complete mixed bag with drama aplenty for some of the bigger teams (read more here). The massive overnight news coming in ahead of 2025 Dakar Stage 3 was the retirement of Carlos Sainz. The damaged sustained when his Ford Raptor rolled during the first part of the chrono stage […]
2025 Dakar Stage 2 Results – 48 Hr Chrono Ends
2025 Dakar Stage 2 started on Sunday and only concluded today. Race organisers set a monster second stage that was a 967-km loop to and from Bisha. Competitors had to run as far into the stage as possible. At 17:00 all competitors had to stop racing and proceed to one of six overnight camps. There […]
![2025 Dakar Stage 2a Report – 48 Hr Chrono [w/video]](https://doubleapex.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Yazeed-Al-Rajhi-i-action-during-the-first-part-of-the-48-hr-Chrono-A.S.O._J.Lindini-1024x614.webp)
2025 Dakar Stage 2a Report – 48 Hr Chrono [w/video]
The opening stage of the 2025 Dakar Rally was won by Toyota driver Seth Quintero, as you can read at this link. Race organisers were not playing around as the second stage was a 967-km loop to and from Bisha. 2025 Dakar Stage 2a was held earlier today (Sunday) with the stage only ending tomorrow […]
2025 Dakar Stage 1 Results – Start the Clock
The 2025 Dakar Rally started with a short, 29-km prologue, which was led by SA driver Henk Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing), as you can read at this link. The short timed section was used to determine the starting order of 2025 Dakar stage 1. The times set on the prologue do not count towards the […]
![2025 Dakar Rally Preview [w/video]](https://doubleapex.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Century-Racing-1024x614.webp)
2025 Dakar Rally Preview [w/video]
The 2025 motorsport season will kick off in just a few weeks with traditional season opener, the Dakar Rally. We take a closer look at what fans can expect from the most popular ‘car’ category in our 2025 Dakar Rally Preview. Formula One, WRC, WEC, Nascar, Indy and so many other racing series have all […]
![Bugatti Mistral Sets New World Record [w/video]](https://doubleapex.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bugatti-Mistral-Sets-New-World-Record-2-1024x614.webp)
Bugatti Mistral Sets New World Record [w/video]
The Bugatti Mistral sets new world record for open-top cars. As a reminder, the Mistral is the very last car to use the company’s well-known quad-turbocharged W16 engine. The engine that was created for the Veyron was constantly developed and eventually powered the Chiron. Bugatti hinted at this record when the Mistral made is debut. […]
2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) Heading to SA
The 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) is heading to South Africa. This is the first time the series will visit Sub-Saharan Africa. The news was made public by the FIA and the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture in South Africa. The five-round 2025 W2RC calendar was approved on Wednesday 2 October by the World […]
Forgotten Concepts Part 8: Volkswagen Concept T
In the latest instalment of our ongoing series outlining Forgotten Concepts, we take a look at the Volkswagen Concept T. At the turn of the century, Volkswagen was enjoying its status as one of the world’s largest automakers, but there was just one small problem. Although it had built a reputation for producing – and […]
2024 Dakar Stage 12 Results – The Final Day
The 2024 Dakar Rally is over. After 5 000 km of racing over 13 days, the dust has settled as the race ended with 2024 Dakar stage 12. This was a rather short, 174 km loop that started and ended in the town of Yanbu. The stage seemed to be a fast one without too […]
2024 Dakar Stage 10 Results – A Twist in the Tail…
2024 Dakar stage 10 was a 317 km timed special in a loop around the monumental rock formations of AlUla. The stage was described as a devilish obstacle course will give the savviest competitors plenty of opportunities to capitalise on their rivals’ blunders. Follow Double Apex on Instagram and Facebook where we share more car content. Overnight Drama As […]
2024 Dakar Stage 9 Results – Settling In
The big news on 2024 Dakar Rally 8 was the retirement of defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah. He suffered engine trouble which meant he could not finish the stage. Read more Dakar Rally stage results at this link. 2024 Dakar stage 9 was a 436 km timed special from Hail to AlUla. The latter part of […]
2024 Dakar Stage 8 Results – A Two-Parter
The second week of racing at the 2024 Dakar Rally is well under way. Read more about the opening week of the race at this link. 2024 Dakar stage 8 was a two-part affair held over 458 km from Al Duwadimi to Hail. Racers first competed over 165 km. This was followed by a neutralisation […]