Debut time in Parys as young superstars, new pairings and veterans clash at INGCO Parys 400
The INGCO Parys 400 in the Free State will launch the 2026 South African Rally Raid Championship (SARRC) this weekend with a mouth watering mix of young stars on debut, first time pairings and proven champions, all determined to set the tone for the season ahead.
On 19 and 20 June, the normally tranquil riverside town of Parys will once again echo to the sound of rally raid machinery as crews take on almost 450 km of high intensity racing around the Vaal River – and this year, the entry list reads like a snapshot of the sport’s present and future.
Century Racing – experience and a rising star
At the front of the Century Racing Factory Team effort, Brian Baragwanath and Leonard Cremer return to full time national action in the potent Century Racing CR6 T after missing the 2025 season. A Dakar stage winner and multiple SARRC race winner, Baragwanath brings proven speed and race craft to the opening round and will be a major threat for overall honours.
Lining up alongside them in the team is one of the most exciting young talents in the paddock, Jayden Els, who is new to Century and continues his pairing with co driver Johann Swemmer in the Century Racing CR7. After a bruising outing at Parys last year, the duo are back with more experience and a clear goal to convert raw pace into a big result at the season opener.
“Century Racing really captures the balance we’re seeing in the championship at the moment,” says SA Rally Raid CEO, Archie Rutherford. “You have someone like Brian who has proved himself on the world stage, and a youngster like Jayden who is learning fast and absolutely not overawed by the names around him. That combination is fantastic for the sport.”
Champion under pressure – young guns on the grid
The defending SARRC champions, Saood Variawa and new co-driver Charan Moore, will start their title defence in familiar territory in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux IMT EVO, fresh from a winning run in the Vaal area last season. While it will be Moore’s first event in the car alongside Variawa, he brings considerable rally raid experience to the partnership. Moore is a former motorcycle competitor in the discipline and won the prestigious Original by Motul category at the 2023 Dakar Rally, underlining his endurance, navigation and rally-raid credentials.
Adding extra interest, Saood’s younger brother, Sa’aad Variawa, will also be racing. He made his debut in Vryheid last year and this will be his third national event. In previous outings he competed with his uncle, but this time round will race alongside Wade Harris. With competitive siblings on the same entry list, their progress will be watched closely by fans and fellow competitors alike.
“Saood knows he’ll have a target on his back as the reigning champion, particularly just coming back from winning the Jordan Baja in February,” Rutherford says. “It will also be interesting to see how he and Charan gel in their first event together. Charan brings a wealth of rally raid experience from his years as a rider, and his transition into the navigator’s seat will be one to watch. Family rivalry is a bit different. That sort of family rivalry and support is part of what makes rally raid so special.”
Lawlors take the next step with Ford
Another compelling family story comes from Castrol NWM Ford Rally Raid Team, where Mike and Luke Lawlor will tackle their first championship round together in Parys.
The father and son duo, who moved across from years of shared success on two wheels, will line up in a Ford prepared by Neil Woolridge Motorsport, joining a broader NWM squad that includes regular contenders such as Wors Prinsloo/André Vermeulen and Danie Ludick/Denzil Williamson.
“Mike and Luke’s story has already struck a chord with fans,” says Rutherford. “They’ve come from motocross and enduro, taken the leap into rally raid together, and now they line up for their first championship event in Parys. That’s exactly the kind of ‘behind the helmet’ human story that underpins the dust, drama and machinery.”
Legends, regulars and international flavour
Balancing the influx of youthful talent and new faces is a formidable roster of veterans and race winning regulars keen to stamp their authority on the new season from Round 1.
Former multiple champion Giniel de Villiers, together with Dennis Murphy, will lead the #TeamHilux Rally Raid charge in the DKR Hilux T1+ EVO, having finished on the Parys podium in 2025 alongside the Blignaut brothers, Fouché and Bertus, who return with their own sights set on another top result.
Out of this highly competitive set, the Blignaut brothers are the set to watch. “They are focused USN fitness athletes that will love the challenge of getting back behind the wheel.”
The overall lead will be contested by a powerful cast that includes Guy Botterill/Oriol Mena Valdearcos and Gareth Woolridge.
Exciting international additions to the field include German driver Daniel Schröder, who will team up with Juan Mohr in the WCT VW Amarok. The Schröder family has become synonymous with racing in South Africa, with Daniel’s father, Manfred Schröder, also joining the charge. Dutch duo Victor Versteijnen and Petrus van Dal will make a welcome return to South African competition in the Red-Lined Revo GTR. The familiar faces of Henk Klaassen and Pim Klaassen from DaklaPack Rallysport will likewise be back in action, further strengthening the international contingent and adding even more depth and intrigue to an already highly competitive field.
“This year’s INGCO Parys 400 gives us everything in one weekend,” Rutherford concludes. “You’ve got reigning champions defending, legends like Giniel still absolutely on the pace, big factory teams from Toyota, Ford and Century, and a wave of young drivers and new combinations prepared to take them on. There will be no easy kilometres.”
A season opening showdown on the Vaal
The INGCO Parys 400 will again blend fast, flowing farm roads with more technical sections in and around the Vaal River area, demanding speed, concentration, mechanical sympathy and teamwork in equal measure.
Spectators will have free access to the race HQ and designated viewing points around Parys, with food stalls, activations and live commentary providing a full family day out. For those wanting an even closer view of the action, VIP hospitality and helicopter flips will offer a unique, bird’s-eye perspective of South Africa’s premier rally raid championship.
Fans can follow live tracking and results via the RallySafe App (available free on iStore and Google Play) and stay up to date with news, images and video on the South African Rally Raid Championship social media channels.
As the 2026 SA Rally Raid Championship roars into life on the banks of the Vaal, all eyes will be on Parys to see whether the young superstars, first time pairings or seasoned veterans draw first blood in what promises to be an unforgettable season.
Debut time in Parys as young superstars, new pairings and veterans clash at INGCO Parys 400https://t.co/KqPoTv7OFP#ArriveAlive #SARallying pic.twitter.com/AJucLTDEzb
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 16, 2026
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